Dave Pensado
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Dave Pensado | |
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Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Mix engineer |
Years active | 1970s-present |
Dave Pensado is a Grammy Award-winning mix engineer.[1] His career began in Atlanta in the 1970s and 1980s doing live and studio sound engineering. He has lived in Los Angeles since 1990.[1]
He mixes between 200 and 250 songs a year at Larrabee Studios in Los Angeles.[1] When recording he usually records at Echo Bar Studios in North Hollywood.[citation needed]
On September 12, 2011, Pensado started a weekly show called Pensado's Place, together with Herb Trawick, his manager and business partner.[citation needed] The first part of the show is about audio engineering techniques; Pensado evaluates - sometimes assisted or replaced by a guest speaker - plugins, outboard gear like microphones, and demonstrates how to improve the mix. The second part is an interview of a mixing engineer, master engineer, producer, label CEO or singer-songwriter.[2][failed verification][better source needed]
On July 20, 2013, Pensado and Trawick hosted an event at Vintage King Los Angeles called "Pensado Gear Expo 2013".[3] More than one thousand people from around the world attended. 22-time Grammy Award-winning engineer, Al Schmitt, Steven Slate, Alex da Kid, Ryan Hewitt, and Robert Duncan were a few of the featured guests of the expo.
Equipment
At first, Pensado occasionally demonstrates outboard analog gear, but later on, he only processes/edits audio tracks with his computer, which is also called mixing 'in the box', before sending his mixes to a mastering engineer. For all demonstrations he uses Pro Tools as his DAW (digital audio workstation), and the show is sponsored by audio companies he respects.[1]
Awards
Pensado won a Grammy Award, alongside fellow engineers Jaycen Joshua and Kuk Harrell, for Mary J. Blige's 2008 Best Contemporary R&B Album, Growing Pains.[4]
Pensado was the recipient of the 2020 NAMM TEC (Technical Excellence & Creativity) Hall of Fame Award. Pensado was officially inducted into the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame at the 35th Annual NAMM TEC Awards, held on January 18 in Anaheim, California during the NAMM Show.[5]
Discography
Year | Title | Artist | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Sounds of the Sea | The Cetacea Boys | Mixing |
R&B Anthems | Mixing | ||
2015 | Golden Moments | Jill Scott | Mixing |
Rub | Peaches | Mixing | |
The Story Continues | After Romeo | Mixing | |
2014 | Happy Hour: The Greatest Hits | T-Pain | Mixing |
Holiday | Earth | Mixing | |
Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse | Mariah Carey | Mixing | |
The Lyricists' Opus | Chrisette Michele | Mixing | |
The Way | Macy Gray | Mixing | |
Xscape | Michael Jackson | Mixing | |
2013 | Write It On A Wall | Xai | Mixing |
Break the Pot | Rich Boy | Mixing | |
Now, Then & Forever | Earth | Mixing | |
Rocks and Honey | Bonnie Tyler | Mixing | |
2012 | Breathless/At Last... The Duets Album | Kenny G | Mixing |
Greatest Hits, Chapter 1 | Kelly Clarkson | Mixing | |
R&B: The Collection | [Rhino] | Mixing | |
Decode | Exilia | Mixing | |
2011 | 1977 | The-Dream / Terius Nash | Mixing |
A Family Business | Brandy / Ray J | Mixing | |
A.N.T. | Farm | Mixing | |
Contact | Boney James | Mixing | |
Gloria | Gloria Trevi | Mezcla | |
Killer Love | Nicole Scherzinger | Mixing | |
Roy: Tribute to Roy Orbison | Damien Leith | Mixing | |
The Light of the Sun | Jill Scott | Mixing | |
Heal | Andrea Renzullo | Mixing | |
2010 | Calling All Hearts | Keyshia Cole | Mixing |
Charice | Charice | Mixing | |
Greatest Hits... So Far!!! | P!nk | Mixing | |
Just Dance, Vol. 3 | Mixing | ||
Love King | The-Dream | Mixing | |
Luna Nueva | Debi Nova | Mixing | |
Monkey Business/Elephunk/Bridging the Gap | The Black Eyed Peas | Mixing | |
Pulse | Toni Braxton | Mixing | |
StarStruck | Disney | Mixing | |
Still Standing | Monica | Mixing | |
The Love Trilogy | The-Dream | Mixing | |
Twenty Ten: Greatest Hits | Guy Sebastian | Mixing | |
Uni5: The World's Enemy | Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Mixing | |
Wear My Kiss | Sugababes | Mixing | |
2009 | Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes | Beyoncé | Mixing |
Charmbracelet/The Emancipation of Mimi/E=MC2 | Mariah Carey | Mixing | |
D.N.A. | Mario | Mixing | |
Days Difference | Days Difference | Mixing | |
Deeper Than Rap | Rick Ross | Mixing | |
Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back | Mixing | ||
Differently | Cassie Davis | Mixing | |
Evolution of a Man | Brian McKnight | Mixing | |
Fantasy Ride | Ciara | Mixing | |
Fight for Love | Elliott Yamin | Mixing | |
Forever in a Day | Day26 | Mixing | |
Guilty Pleasure | Ashley Tisdale | Mixing | |
Hits | Seal | Mixing | |
How to Be a Lady, Vol. 1 | Electrik Red | Mixing | |
I Look to You | Whitney Houston | Mixing | |
Just Dance, Vol. 2 | Mixing | ||
Just Go | Lionel Richie | Mixing | |
Lady Love | LeToya | Mixing | |
Let It | Beat Shwayze | Mixing | |
Let's Get Crazy | Cassie | Mixing | |
Love vs Money | The-Dream | Mixing | |
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel | Mariah Carey | Mixing | |
My World | Justin Bieber | Mixing | |
P!nk Box | P!nk | Mixing | |
Ready | Trey Songz | Mixing | |
Round 2 | J. Holiday | Mixing | |
Ruthless | Ace Hood | Mixing | |
She Wolf | Shakira | Mixing, Mixing Engineer | |
Soft White | Mack 10 | Mixing | |
Still | BeBe & CeCe Winans | Mixing | |
Stronger with Each Tear | Mary J. Blige | Mixing | |
Sweet 7 | Sugababes | Mixing | |
The Rebirth | Bobby V | Mixing | |
This Is Us | Backstreet Boys | Mixing | |
This Is the One | Utada | Mixing | |
Toussaint St. Jean: From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion | Wyclef Jean | Mixing | |
Untitled | R. Kelly | Mixing | |
2008 | A Different Me | Keyshia Cole | Mixing |
A Long Time Coming | Wayne Brady | Mixing | |
Best of Hilary Duff | Hilary Duff | Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing | |
Best of the Best: Love Songs | Diana Ross | Mixing | |
Black Summer Party: Best Of, Vol. 5 | Mixing | ||
Brutha | Brutha | Mixing | |
Call and Response: The Remix Album | Maroon 5 | Mixing | |
Colby O | Colby O'Donis | Mixing | |
Cookie Jar | The-Dream / Gym Class Heroes | Mixing | |
Departure | Jesse McCartney | Mixing | |
Discipline | Janet Jackson | Mixing | |
Doll Domination | The Pussycat Dolls | Mixing | |
Dream a Little | Jimmy Demers | Mixing | |
E=MC² | Mariah Carey | Mixing | |
Exit 13 | LL Cool J | Mixing | |
First Love | Karina | Mixing | |
Girlicious | Girlicious | Mixing | |
Here I Stand | Usher | Mixing | |
I Am...Sasha Fierce | Beyoncé | Mixing | |
I'll Be Home for Christmas | Brian McKnight | Enhanced CD Audio Creation | |
Intuition | Jamie Foxx | Mixing | |
Just a Rolling Stone | Donnie Klang | Mixing | |
Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits | Christina Aguilera | Mixing, Audio Production, Assistant Engineer | |
Music in My Soul | Leigh Jones | Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing | |
OnMyRadio | Musiq Soulchild | Mixing | |
Playlist: Woman | Mixing | ||
Prima J | Prima J | Mixing | |
Raven-Symoné | Raven-Symoné | Mixing | |
Shwayze | Shwayze | Mixing | |
Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams | Solange | Mixing | |
Texas | Playradioplay! | Mixing | |
The Best Love...Ever! | Mixing | ||
The Hits | Kelis | Mixing | |
The Quilt | Gym Class Heroes | Mixing | |
The Truth | Cherish | Mixing | |
Theater of the Mind | Ludacris | Mixing | |
True to the Game | Mixing | ||
Turbo 919 | Sean Garrett | Mixing | |
Uncle Charlie | Charlie Wilson | Mixing | |
Yours, Mine and the Truth | Sterling Simms | Mixing | |
2007 | All in My Blood | Wiz Khalifa | Mixing |
Big | Macy Gray | Mixing | |
Bratz [Original Soundtrack] | Bratz | Mixing | |
Ghetto Passport | Famouz | Mixing | |
Greatest Hits | Groove Armada | Mixing | |
Growing Pains | Mary J. Blige | Mixing | |
Just Like You | Keyshia Cole | Mixing | |
Look What You Made Me | Yung Berg | Enhanced Recording | |
Love Is Wicked | Brick & Lace | Mixing | |
Love/Hate | The-Dream | Mixing | |
P!nk Box [2007] | P!nk | Mixing | |
Souljaboytellem.com | Soulja Boy Tell Em | Mixing | |
Soundboy Rock | Groove Armada | Mixing | |
Spirit | Leona Lewis | Mixing | |
Strength & Loyalty | Bone Thugs-N-Harmony | Mixing | |
System | Seal | Audio Engineer, Mixing | |
Taking Chances | Céline Dion | Mixing | |
The Best of Me: Yolanda Adams Greatest Hits | Yolanda Adams | Mixing | |
The Cool | Lupe Fiasco | Enhanced Recording | |
The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3 | Jill Scott | Mixing | |
The Rise and Fall of Keite Young | Keite Young | Mixing | |
Trey Day | Trey Songz | Mixing | |
Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls | Tyler Perry | Mixing | |
We Ride (I See the Future) | Mary J. Blige | Mixing | |
2006 | A Mary Mary Christmas | Mary Mary | Supervisor |
A Public Affair | Jessica Simpson | Mixing | |
Aura | Yvonne Catterfeld | Mixing | |
B'day | Beyoncé | Mixing | |
Back to Basics | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
Be Without You | Mary J. Blige | Mixing | |
Christina Aguilera/Stripped | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
Club Bangers | Mixing | ||
Coming Home | Lionel Richie | Mixing | |
Dance Revolution | The Slumber Party Girls | Mixing | |
Director | Avant | Mixing | |
Heart to Yours/Do You Know | Michelle Williams | Mixing | |
I Don't Need a Man | The Pussycat Dolls | Mixing | |
In My Own Words | Ne-Yo | Mixing | |
Kelis Was Here | Kelis | Mixing | |
Light Poles and Pine Trees | Field Mob | Mixing | |
Live in London | The Pussycat Dolls | Mixing | |
Loose | Nelly Furtado | Mixing | |
Maneater | Nelly Furtado | Mixing | |
My Book | K-Ci | Mixing | |
My Friends & Me | Dionne Warwick | Mixing | |
Point of No Return | Shareefa | Mixing | |
Reflections (A Retrospective) | Mary J. Blige | Mixing | |
Step Up | Mixing | ||
Ten | Brian McKnight | Mixing | |
Testimony, Vol. 1: Life & Relationship | India.Arie | Mixing | |
2005 | #1's | Destiny's Child | Mixing |
Beautiful Life/Just As I Am | Guy Sebastian | Mixing | |
Check on It [Single] | Beyoncé / Slim Thug | Mixing | |
Cool Traxx!, Vol. 2 | Remixing | ||
Day by Day | Yolanda Adams | Mixing | |
Desperate Housewives [TV Soundtrack] | Mixing | ||
Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul | Jaguar Wright | Mixing | |
Gemini | Brian McKnight | Mixing | |
Girl, Pt. 1 | Destiny's Child | Mixing | |
Hero | Kirk Franklin | Mixing | |
I Am Not My Hair | India.Arie | Mixing | |
Illumination | Earth | Mixing | |
In Public | Kelis | Mixing | |
In This Life Together | Kindred the Family Soul | Mixing | |
In the Mid-Nite Hour | Warren G | Mixing | |
In the Mix [Music from the Motion Picture] | Mixing | ||
Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen | Mixing | ||
Lost and Found | Will Smith | Mixing, Composer | |
Missundaztood/Can't Take Me Home | P!nk | Mixing | |
PCD | The Pussycat Dolls | Mixing | |
Sweatsuit | Nelly | Vocal Mixing | |
The Breakthrough | Mary J. Blige | Mixing | |
The Way It Is | Keyshia Cole | Mixing | |
This is Me | Jully Black | Engineer | |
Tilt Ya Head Back | Nelly | Vocal Mixing | |
When Love Is Gone | Martin Nievera | Mixing | |
2004 | At Last...The Duets Album | Kenny G | Mixing |
Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Mixing | ||
Beautiful Life | Guy Sebastian | Mixing | |
Believe in Angels Believe in Me | Angel | Mixing, A&R | |
Cherie | Cherie | Engineer, Mixing | |
Destiny Fulfilled | Destiny's Child | Mixing | |
Do You Know | Michelle Williams | Mixing | |
Grammy Nominees 2004 | Mixing | ||
I Changed My Mind | Keyshia Cole | Engineer | |
Just for You | Lionel Richie | Mixing | |
Let's Talk About It | Carl Thomas | Mixing | |
Never | Keyshia Cole | Mixing | |
Outrun the Sky | Lalah Hathaway | Mixing | |
Shark Tale | Mixing | ||
Sweat | Nelly | Vocal Mixing | |
The Collection | Dina Carroll | Mixing | |
The Ultimate R&B Album | Mixing | ||
The Very Best of Macy Gray | Macy Gray | Mixing | |
Throwback | Boyz II Men | Mixing | |
Tiffany Villarreal | Tiffany Villareal | Mixing | |
Walkin' in the Shadow of Life | Neville Brothers | Mixing | |
2003 | Biker Boyz | Mixing | |
Chasing Time II | Martin Nievera | Mixing | |
Emosoul | D.J. Rogers Jr. | Mixing | |
Fallen | Mya | Mixing | |
Falling Uphill | Lillix | Mixing | |
In This Skin | Jessica Simpson | Mixing | |
Low | Kelly Clarkson | Mixing | |
Miss Independent | Kelly Clarkson | Mixing | |
Moodring | Mya | Mixing | |
My Love Is Like...Wo | Mya | Mixing | |
Rose Falcon | Rose Falcon | Mixing | |
Solo Star | Solange | Mixing | |
Tasty | Kelis | Mixing | |
Thankful | Kelly Clarkson | Mixing | |
The Fighting | Temptations | Mixing | |
Trouble [Import CD] | P!nk | Mixing | |
Try This | P!nk | Mixing | |
U Turn | Brian McKnight | Mixing | |
2002 | Amor Secreto | Luis Fonsi | Mixing |
Austin Powers in Goldmember [Original Soundtrack] | Mixing | ||
Dirrty | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
Dirty | Child Rosey | Mixing | |
El Cool Magnifico | Coolio | Mixing | |
Emotional | K-Ci & JoJo Engineer, | Mixing | |
Family Portrait | P!nk | Mixing | |
Fight the Feeling | Luis Fonsi | Mixing | |
From There to Here: 1989-2002 | Brian McKnight | Mixing | |
Full Circle | Boyz II Men | Mixing | |
Full Moon | Brandy | Mixing | |
Fun Rose | Falcon | Mixing | |
Get the Party Started [Australia CD] | P!nk | Mixing | |
Go-Get-Her/Nowhere | Vi3 | Mixing | |
Greatest Hits | Jon B. | Mixing | |
Justified | Justin Timberlake | Mixing | |
Love & War | Jerzee Monet | Mixing | |
Moulin Rouge [Original Soundtrack] | Mixing | ||
Scooby-Doo [Original Soundtrack] | Mixing | ||
Simply Deep | Kelly Rowland | Mixing | |
So Tight | Vi3 | Mixing | |
Stole [4 Track Single] | Kelly Rowland | Mixing | |
Stripped | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
This Is the Remix | Destiny's Child | Mixing | |
Transporter [Original Soundtrack] | Mixing | ||
Virginity | TG4 | Mixing | |
2001 | 8 Days of Christmas | Destiny's Child | Mixing |
A Girl Like Me | Emma Bunton | Mixing | |
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Soundtrack) | James Newton Howard | Mixing | |
BBD Bell | Biv DeVoe | Mixing, Mixing Engineer | |
Down to Earth [Music from the Motion Picture] | Mixing | ||
Dr. Dolittle 2 | Mixing | ||
Greatest Hits | Ice Cube | Mixing | |
JP | Jesse Powell | Mixing | |
Jersey Ave. | Jersey Ave. | Mixing | |
Joy Enriquez | Joy Enriquez | Mixing | |
Lady Marmalade | Christina Aguilera / Missy Elliott / Mya / P!nk | Mixing | |
Legally Blonde | Mixing | ||
M!ssundaztood | P!nk | Mixing | |
MTV: TRL Christmas | Mixing | ||
Pleasures U Like | Jon B. | Mixing | |
Pure R&B, Vol. 2 | Mixing | ||
Superhero | Brian McKnight | Mixing | |
Survivor | Destiny's Child | Mixing | |
The Very Best of Dina Carroll | Dina Carroll | Mixing | |
The Brothers [2001] | Mixing | ||
Victoria Beckham | Victoria Beckham | Mixing | |
2000 | Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones | Sticky Fingaz | Mixing |
Bridging the Gap | The Black Eyed Peas | Mixing | |
Fearless | Crystal Lewis | Mixing | |
Gift of Love | Diana Ross | Mixing | |
Gotta Tell You | Samantha Mumba | Producer, Mixing | |
La Colección | Crystal Lewis | Mixing | |
Love & Basketball [Soundtrack] | Mixing | ||
Men of Honor | Mark Isham | Mixing | |
My Kind of Christmas | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps | Mixing | ||
Paris: New York | Marc Laurens | Mixing | |
Remix Plus | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
Revelation | 98° | Mixing | |
The Hurricane [Original Soundtrack] | Mixing | ||
X | K-Ci & JoJo | Mixing | |
You Can't Resist | Jessica | Mixing | |
1999 | 24-7 | Kevon Edmonds | Mixing |
5 for 1 5 | Young Men | Mixing | |
Chocolate Mood | Marc Nelson | Mixing | |
Christina Aguilera | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
Coolio's Crowbar Records Presents a Compilation of New Artists | Mixing | ||
Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida" | Elton John / Tim Rice | Mixing | |
Enrique | Enrique Iglesias | Mixing | |
Hot Coko | Coko | Mixing | |
I Love You...Me | Cherokee | Mixing | |
I Want It All | Warren G | Mixing | |
It's Real | K-Ci & JoJo | Mixing | |
Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album | Mixing | ||
Northern Star | Melanie C | Mixing | |
Pokémon: The First Movie | Mixing | ||
Shanice | Shanice | Mixing | |
Trina & Tamara | Trina & Tamara | Mixing | |
Unleash the Dragon | Sisqó | Mixing, Mixing Engineer | |
What a Girl Wants | Christina Aguilera | Mixing | |
1998 | 12 Soulful Nights of Christmas | Jermaine Dupri | Mixing |
4 Bruthas and a Bass | Solo | Mixing | |
Behind the Front | The Black Eyed Peas | Mixing | |
Bethlehem | Brian McKnight | Mixing | |
Breath from Another | Esthero | Mixing | |
Fame | L.A. | Mixing | |
In Love at Christmas | K-Ci & JoJo | Mixing | |
Only You | Tami Davis | Mixing | |
1997 | BeBe Winans | BeBe Winans | Mixing |
Betta Listen | Laurneá | Mixing | |
C U When U Get There | Coolio | Mixing | |
Greatest Hits | Eternal | Mixing | |
Love Always | K-Ci & JoJo | Mixing | |
My Soul | Coolio | Mixing | |
Rahsaan Patterson Rahsaan Patterson | Engineer | Mixing | |
Samantha Cole | Samantha Cole | Engineer | |
Steel | Mixing | ||
1996 | Back to the World Tevin Campbell | Engineer, | Mixing |
I Am L.V. | L.V. | Mixing | |
Light Years | Jamiroquai | Mixing | |
Jermaine Dupri Presents: Soulful Nights of Christmas | Jermaine Dupri | Mixing | |
1995 | Damn Thing Called Love | After 7 | Mixing |
Do You Wanna Ride? | Adina Howard | Mixing | |
I Remember You | Brian McKnight | Engineer | |
Out of the Blu | Blu | Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming | |
Reflections | After 7 | Mixing | |
We Got It | Immature | Mixing | |
1994 | Blankman | Mixing | |
For You | London Jones | Mixing | |
Hot & Ready | Raja-Nee | Mixing | |
Sugar Hill | Producer, Engineer, | Mixing | |
Time | Atlantic Starr | Mixing | |
Treat U Right | Blackgirl | Mixing | |
1993 | Afro-Plane | Afro-Plane | Engineer |
Five XI | Five XI | Mixing | |
It's Real | The Real Seduction | Composer | |
Love's Alright | Eddie Murphy | Mixing | |
The Meteor Man | Mixing | ||
Whole New Head | One II 3 | Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Engineer | |
1992 | Countess | Countess Vaughn Producer, Mixing, | Remixing |
Crazy Coolin' | The Barrio Boyzz | Mixing | |
On Our Worst Behavior | Immature | Producer, Mixing, Production Technician | |
White Men Can't Jump | Producer, Engineer, Composer | ||
1991 | Freezin' 'Em | Level III | Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Vocal Engineer, Composer |
Live Your Life Be Free | Belinda Carlisle | Remixing | |
Livin' It Up [Cassette Single] | Trent Dean | Mixing | |
Ricca | Ricca | Mixing | |
Spellbound | Paula Abdul | Engineer | |
WBBD - Bootcity! The Remix Album | Bell Biv DeVoe | Remixing | |
What Comes Naturally | Sheena Easton | Engineer | |
1990 | Notes of a Native Son | Laquan | Mixing |
Ralph Tresvant | Ralph Tresvant | Mixing | |
Tommy Boy's Greatest Hits | Mixing | ||
1988 | Too Tuff | Brick | Engineer |
Breakdance Party | Mixing |
Alumni
Some successful audio engineers & producers that have assisted for Dave Pensado in the past include Sylvia Massy, Jaycen Joshua, Manny Marroquin, Dylan "3-D" Dresdow, Ariel Chobaz, Ethan Willoughby, Nico Hamui, and Rafael Fadul.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d Tingen, Paul (January 2007). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers - Dave Pensado". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ "Pensado's Place". Pensadosplace.tv. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ "Backbeat: Pensado's Place Web Series and Vintage King Audio Launch Gear Expo 2013 in L.A." Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Past Winners Search". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ NAMM. "Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick Named as Recipients of The TEC Hall of Fame Award". namm.org.
- ^ "Dave Pensado - Credits & Awards". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
External links
- Dave Pensado on Discogs
- Pensado's Place
- Dave Pensado NAMM Oral History Program Interview (2015)