Dave Pensado
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.
Dave Pensado | |
---|---|
Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Occupation(s) | Mix engineer |
Years active | 1970s-present |
On September 12, 2011, he started a weekly show called Pensado's Place with Herb Trawick. The show is about engineering techniques and interviews a guest Mixer, Producer or Artist each episode.[2]
On July 20, 2013, Dave Pensado and Herb 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
Pensado mixes primarily "in the box," which means he uses very little outboard analog gear, and instead processes/edits audio tracks in his computer ("the box") before sending finished mixes to a mastering engineer. Apart from the very occasional Logic session, he uses Pro Tools.[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.[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, Dylan "3-D" Dresdow, Ariel Chobaz, Ethan Willoughby, Nico Hamui, and Rafael Fadul.[6]
References
- 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." 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)