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.

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]

Discography

2016 Sounds of the Sea - The Cetacea Boys Mixing

2015 Golden Moments Jill Scott Mixing

2015 Rub Peaches Mixing

2014 Happy Hour: The Greatest Hits T-Pain Mixing

2014 Holiday Earth Mixing

2014 Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse Mariah Carey Mixing

2014 The Lyricists' Opus Chrisette Michele Mixing

2014 The Way Macy Gray Mixing

2014 Xscape Michael Jackson Mixing

2013 Break the Pot Rich Boy Mixing

2013 Now, Then & Forever Earth Mixing

2013 Rocks and Honey Bonnie Tyler Mixing

2012 Breathless/At Last... The Duets Album Kenny G Mixing

2012 Greatest Hits, Chapter 1 Kelly Clarkson Mixing

2012 R&B: The Collection [Rhino] Mixing

2011 1977 The-Dream / Terius Nash Mixing

2011 A Family Business Brandy / Ray J Mixing

2011 A.N.T. Farm Mixing

2011 Contact Boney James Mixing

2011 Gloria Gloria Trevi Mezcla

2011 Killer Love Nicole Scherzinger Mixing

2011 Roy: Tribute to Roy Orbison Damien Leith Mixing

2011 The Light of the Sun Jill Scott Mixing

2010 Calling All Hearts Keyshia Cole Mixing

2010 Charice Charice Mixing

2010 Greatest Hits... So Far!!! P!nk Mixing

2010 Just Dance, Vol. 3 Mixing

2010 Love King The-Dream Mixing

2010 Luna Nueva Debi Nova Mixing

2010 Monkey Business/Elephunk/Bridging the Gap The Black Eyed Peas Mixing

2010 Pulse Toni Braxton Mixing

2010 StarStruck Disney Mixing

2010 Still Standing Monica Mixing

2010 The Love Trilogy The-Dream Mixing

2010 Twenty Ten: Greatest Hits Guy Sebastian Mixing

2010 Uni5: The World's Enemy Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Mixing

2009 Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes Beyoncé Mixing

2009 Charmbracelet/The Emancipation of Mimi/E=MC2 Mariah Carey Mixing

2009 D.N.A. Mario Mixing

2009 Days Difference Days Difference Mixing

2009 Deeper Than Rap Rick Ross Mixing

2009 Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back Mixing

2009 Differently Cassie Davis Mixing

2009 Evolution of a Man Brian McKnight Mixing

2009 Fantasy Ride Ciara Mixing

2009 Fight for Love Elliott Yamin Mixing

2009 Forever in a Day Day26 Mixing

2009 Guilty Pleasure Ashley Tisdale Mixing

2009 Hits Seal Mixing

2009 How to Be a Lady, Vol. 1 Electrik Red Mixing

2009 I Look to You Whitney Houston Mixing

2009 Just Dance, Vol. 2 Mixing

2009 Just Go Lionel Richie Mixing

2009 Lady Love LeToya Mixing

2009 Let It Beat Shwayze Mixing

2009 Let's Get Crazy Cassie Mixing

2009 Love vs Money The-Dream Mixing

2009 Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel Mariah Carey Mixing

2009 My World Justin Bieber Mixing

2009 P!nk Box P!nk Mixing

2009 Ready Trey Songz Mixing

2009 Round 2 J. Holiday Mixing

2009 Ruthless Ace Hood Mixing

2009 She Wolf Shakira Mixing, Mixing Engineer

2009 Soft White Mack 10 Mixing

2009 Still BeBe & CeCe Winans Mixing

2009 Stronger with Each Tear Mary J. Blige Mixing

2009 Sweet 7 Sugababes Mixing

2009 The Rebirth Bobby V Mixing

2009 This Is Us Backstreet Boys Mixing

2009 This Is the One Utada Mixing

2009 Toussaint St. Jean: From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion Wyclef Jean Mixing

2009 Untitled R. Kelly Mixing

2008 A Different Me Keyshia Cole Mixing

2008 A Long Time Coming Wayne Brady Mixing

2008 Best of Hilary Duff Hilary Duff Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing

2008 Best of the Best: Love Songs Diana Ross Mixing

2008 Black Summer Party: Best Of, Vol. 5 Mixing

2008 Brutha Brutha Mixing

2008 Call and Response: The Remix Album Maroon 5 Mixing

2008 Colby O Colby O'Donis Mixing

2008 Cookie Jar The-Dream / Gym Class Heroes Mixing

2008 Departure Jesse McCartney Mixing

2008 Discipline Janet Jackson Mixing

2008 Doll Domination The Pussycat Dolls Mixing

2008 Dream a Little Jimmy Demers Mixing

2008 E=MC² Mariah Carey Mixing 2008 Exit 13 LL Cool J Mixing

2008 First Love Karina Mixing

2008 Girlicious Girlicious Mixing 2008 Here I Stand Usher Mixing

2008 I Am...Sasha Fierce Beyoncé Mixing

2008 I'll Be Home for Christmas Brian McKnight Enhanced CD Audio Creation

2008 Intuition Jamie Foxx Mixing

2008 Just a Rolling Stone Donnie Klang Mixing

2008 Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits Christina Aguilera Mixing, Audio Production, Assistant Engineer

2008 Music in My Soul Leigh Jones Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing

2008 OnMyRadio Musiq Soulchild Mixing

2008 Playlist: Woman Mixing 2008 Prima J Prima J Mixing

2008 Raven-Symoné Raven-Symoné Mixing

2008 Shwayze Shwayze Mixing

2008 Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams Solange Mixing

2008 Texas Playradioplay! Mixing

2008 The Best Love...Ever! Mixing

2008 The Hits Kelis Mixing

2008 The Quilt Gym Class Heroes Mixing

2008 The Truth Cherish Mixing

2008 Theater of the Mind Ludacris Mixing

2008 True to the Game Mixing

2008 Turbo 919 Sean Garrett Mixing

2008 Uncle Charlie Charlie Wilson Mixing

2008 Yours, Mine and the Truth Sterling Simms Mixing

2007 All in My Blood Wiz Khalifa Mixing

2007 Big Macy Gray Mixing

2007 Bratz [Original Soundtrack] Bratz Mixing

2007 Ghetto Passport Famouz Mixing

2007 Greatest Hits Groove Armada Mixing

2007 Growing Pains Mary J. Blige Mixing

2007 Just Like You Keyshia Cole Mixing

2007 Look What You Made Me Yung Berg Enhanced Recording

2007 Love Is Wicked Brick & Lace Mixing

2007 Love/Hate The-Dream Mixing

2007 P!nk Box [2007] P!nk Mixing

2007 Souljaboytellem.com Soulja Boy Tell Em Mixing

2007 Soundboy Rock Groove Armada Mixing

2007 Spirit Leona Lewis Mixing

2007 Strength & Loyalty Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Mixing

2007 System Seal Audio Engineer, Mixing

2007 Taking Chances Céline Dion Mixing

2007 The Best of Me: Yolanda Adams Greatest Hits Yolanda Adams Mixing

2007 The Cool Lupe Fiasco Enhanced Recording

2007 The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3 Jill Scott Mixing

2007 The Rise and Fall of Keite Young Keite Young Mixing

2007 Trey Day Trey Songz Mixing

2007 Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls Mixing

2007 We Ride (I See the Future) Mary J. Blige Mixing

2006 A Mary Mary Christmas Mary Mary Supervisor

2006 A Public Affair Jessica Simpson Mixing

2006 A Public Affair Jessica Simpson Mixing

2006 Aura Yvonne Catterfeld Mixing

2006 B'day Beyoncé Mixing

2006 Back to Basics Christina Aguilera Mixing

2006 Be Without You Mary J. Blige Mixing

2006 Christina Aguilera/Stripped Christina Aguilera Mixing

2006 Club Bangers Mixing

2006 Coming Home Lionel Richie Mixing

2006 Dance Revolution The Slumber Party Girls Mixing

2006 Director Avant Mixing

2006 Heart to Yours/Do You Know Michelle Williams Mixing

2006 I Don't Need a Man The Pussycat Dolls Mixing

2006 In My Own Words Ne-Yo Mixing

2006 Kelis Was Here Kelis Mixing

2006 Light Poles and Pine Trees Field Mob Mixing

2006 Live in London The Pussycat Dolls Mixing

2006 Loose Nelly Furtado Mixing

2006 Maneater Nelly Furtado Mixing

2006 My Book K-Ci Mixing

2006 My Friends & Me Dionne Warwick Mixing

2006 Point of No Return Shareefa Mixing

2006 Reflections (A Retrospective) Mary J. Blige Mixing

2006 Step Up Mixing

2006 Ten Brian McKnight Mixing

2006 Testimony, Vol. 1: Life & Relationship India.Arie Mixing

2005 #1's Destiny's Child Mixing

2005 Beautiful Life/Just As I Am Guy Sebastian Mixing

2005 Check on It [Single] Beyoncé / Slim Thug Mixing

2005 Cool Traxx!, Vol. 2 Remixing

2005 Day by Day Yolanda Adams Mixing

2005 Desperate Housewives [TV Soundtrack] Mixing

2005 Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul Jaguar Wright Mixing

2005 Gemini Brian McKnight Mixing

2005 Girl, Pt. 1 Destiny's Child Mixing

2005 Hero Kirk Franklin Mixing

2005 I Am Not My Hair India.Arie Mixing

2005 Illumination Earth Mixing

2005 In Public Kelis Mixing

2005 In This Life Together Kindred the Family Soul Mixing

2005 In the Mid-Nite Hour Warren G Mixing

2005 In the Mix [Music from the Motion Picture] Mixing

2005 Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen Mixing

2005 Lost and Found Will Smith Mixing, Composer

2005 Missundaztood/Can't Take Me Home P!nk Mixing

2005 PCD The Pussycat Dolls Mixing

2005 Sweatsuit Nelly Vocal Mixing

2005 The Breakthrough Mary J. Blige Mixing

2005 The Way It Is Keyshia Cole Mixing

2005 This is Me Jully Black Engineer

2005 Tilt Ya Head Back Nelly Vocal Mixing

2005 When Love Is Gone Martin Nievera Mixing

2004 At Last...The Duets Album Kenny G Mixing

2004 Barbershop 2: Back in Business Mixing

2004 Beautiful Life Guy Sebastian Mixing

2004 Believe in Angels Believe in Me Angel Mixing, A&R

2004 Cherie Cherie Engineer, Mixing

2004 Destiny Fulfilled Destiny's Child Mixing

2004 Do You Know Michelle Williams Mixing

2004 Grammy Nominees 2004 Mixing

2004 I Changed My Mind Keyshia Cole Engineer

2004 Just for You Lionel Richie Mixing

2004 Let's Talk About It Carl Thomas Mixing

2004 Never Keyshia Cole Mixing

2004 Outrun the Sky Lalah Hathaway Mixing

2004 Shark Tale Mixing

2004 Sweat Nelly Vocal Mixing

2004 The Collection Dina Carroll Mixing

2004 The Ultimate R&B Album Mixing

2004 The Very Best of Macy Gray Macy Gray Mixing

2004 Throwback Boyz II Men Mixing

2004 Tiffany Villarreal Tiffany Villareal Mixing

2004 Walkin' in the Shadow of Life Neville Brothers Mixing

2003 Biker Boyz Mixing

2003 Chasing Time II Martin Nievera Mixing

2003 Emosoul D.J. Rogers Jr. Mixing

2003 Fallen Mya Mixing

2003 Falling Uphill Lillix Mixing

2003 In This Skin Jessica Simpson Mixing

2003 Low Kelly Clarkson Mixing

2003 Miss Independent Kelly Clarkson Mixing

2003 Moodring Mya Mixing

2003 My Love Is Like...Wo Mya Mixing

2003 Rose Falcon Rose Falcon Mixing

2003 Solo Star Solange Mixing

2003 Tasty Kelis Mixing

2003 Thankful Kelly Clarkson Mixing

2003 The Fighting Temptations Mixing

2003 Trouble [Import CD] P!nk Mixing

2003 Try This P!nk Mixing

2003 U Turn Brian McKnight Mixing

2002 Amor Secreto Luis Fonsi Mixing

2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember [Original Soundtrack] Mixing

2002 Dirrty Christina Aguilera Mixing

2002 Dirty Child Rosey Mixing

2002 El Cool Magnifico Coolio Mixing

2002 Emotional K-Ci & JoJo Engineer, Mixing

2002 Family Portrait P!nk Mixing

2002 Fight the Feeling Luis Fonsi Mixing

2002 From There to Here: 1989-2002 Brian McKnight Mixing

2002 Full Circle Boyz II Men Mixing

2002 Full Moon Brandy Mixing

2002 Fun Rose Falcon Mixing

2002 Get the Party Started [Australia CD] P!nk Mixing

2002 Go-Get-Her/Nowhere Vi3 Mixing

2002 Greatest Hits Jon B. Mixing

2002 Justified Justin Timberlake Mixing

2002 Love & War Jerzee Monet Mixing

2002 Moulin Rouge [Original Soundtrack] Mixing

2002 Scooby-Doo [Original Soundtrack] Mixing

2002 Simply Deep Kelly Rowland Mixing

2002 So Tight Vi3 Mixing

2002 Stole [4 Track Single] Kelly Rowland Mixing

2002 Stripped Christina Aguilera Mixing

2002 This Is the Remix Destiny's Child Mixing

2002 Transporter [Original Soundtrack] Mixing

2002 Virginity TG4 Mixing

2001 8 Days of Christmas Destiny's Child Mixing

2001 A Girl Like Me Emma Bunton Mixing

2001 Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Soundtrack) James Newton Howard Mixing

2001 BBD Bell Biv DeVoe Mixing, Mixing Engineer

2001 Down to Earth [Music from the Motion Picture] Mixing

2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Mixing

2001 Greatest Hits Ice Cube Mixing

2001 JP Jesse Powell Mixing

2001 Jersey Ave. Jersey Ave. Mixing

2001 Joy Enriquez Joy Enriquez Mixing

2001 Lady Marmalade Christina Aguilera / Missy Elliott / Mya / P!nk Mixing

2001 Legally Blonde Mixing

2001 M!ssundaztood P!nk Mixing

2001 MTV: TRL Christmas Mixing

2001 Pleasures U Like Jon B. Mixing

2001 Pure R&B, Vol. 2 Mixing

2001 Superhero Brian McKnight Mixing

2001 Survivor Destiny's Child Mixing

2001 The Very Best of Dina Carroll Dina Carroll Mixing

2001 The Brothers [2001] Mixing

2001 Victoria Beckham Victoria Beckham Mixing

2000 Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones Sticky Fingaz Mixing

2000 Bridging the Gap The Black Eyed Peas Mixing

2000 Fearless Crystal Lewis Mixing

2000 Gift of Love Diana Ross Mixing

2000 Gotta Tell You Samantha Mumba Producer, Mixing

2000 La Colección Crystal Lewis Mixing

2000 Love & Basketball [Soundtrack] Mixing

2000 Men of Honor Mark Isham Mixing

2000 My Kind of Christmas Christina Aguilera Mixing

2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Mixing

2000 Paris: New York Marc Laurens Mixing

2000 Remix Plus Christina Aguilera Mixing

2000 Revelation 98° Mixing

2000 The Hurricane [Original Soundtrack] Mixing

2000 X K-Ci & JoJo Mixing

2000 You Can't Resist Jessica Mixing

1999 24-7 Kevon Edmonds Mixing

1999 5 for 1 5 Young Men Mixing

1999 Chocolate Mood Marc Nelson Mixing

1999 Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera Mixing

1999 Coolio's Crowbar Records Presents a Compilation of New Artists Mixing

1999 Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida" Elton John / Tim Rice Mixing

1999 Enrique Enrique Iglesias Mixing

1999 Hot Coko Coko Mixing

1999 I Love You...Me Cherokee Mixing

1999 I Want It All Warren G Mixing

1999 It's Real K-Ci & JoJo Mixing

1999 Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album Mixing

1999 Northern Star Melanie C Mixing

1999 Pokémon: The First Movie Mixing

1999 Shanice Shanice Mixing

1999 Trina & Tamara Trina & Tamara Mixing

1999 Unleash the Dragon Sisqó Mixing, Mixing Engineer

1999 What a Girl Wants Christina Aguilera Mixing

1998 12 Soulful Nights of Christmas Jermaine Dupri Mixing

1998 4 Bruthas and a Bass Solo Mixing

1998 Behind the Front The Black Eyed Peas Mixing

1998 Bethlehem Brian McKnight Mixing

1998 Breath from Another Esthero Mixing

1998 Fame L.A. Mixing

1998 In Love at Christmas K-Ci & JoJo Mixing

1998 Only You Tami Davis Mixing

1997 BeBe Winans BeBe Winans Mixing

1997 Betta Listen Laurneá Mixing

1997 C U When U Get There Coolio Mixing

1997 Greatest Hits Eternal Mixing

1997 Love Always K-Ci & JoJo Mixing

1997 My Soul Coolio Mixing

1997 Rahsaan Patterson Rahsaan Patterson Engineer, Mixing

1997 Samantha Cole Samantha Cole Engineer

1997 Steel Mixing

1996 Back to the World Tevin Campbell Engineer, Mixing

1996 I Am L.V. L.V. Mixing

1996 Light Years Jamiroquai Mixing

1995 Damn Thing Called Love After 7 Mixing

1995 Do You Wanna Ride? Adina Howard Mixing

1995 I Remember You Brian McKnight Engineer

1995 Out of the Blu Blu Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming

1995 Reflections After 7 Mixing

1995 We Got It Immature Mixing

1994 Blankman Mixing

1994 For You London Jones Mixing

1994 Hot & Ready Raja-Nee Mixing

1994 Sugar Hill Producer, Engineer, Mixing

1994 Time Atlantic Starr Mixing

1994 Treat U Right Blackgirl Mixing

1993 Afro-Plane Afro-Plane Engineer

1993 Five XI Five XI Mixing

1993 It's Real The Real Seduction Composer

1993 Love's Alright Eddie Murphy Mixing

1993 The Meteor Man Mixing

1993 Whole New Head One II 3 Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Engineer

1992 Countess Countess Vaughn Producer, Mixing, Remixing

1992 Crazy Coolin' The Barrio Boyzz Mixing

1992 On Our Worst Behavior Immature Producer, Mixing, Production Technician

1992 White Men Can't Jump Producer, Engineer, Composer

1991 Freezin' 'Em Level III Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Vocal Engineer, Composer

1991 Live Your Life Be Free Belinda Carlisle Remixing

1991 Livin' It Up [Cassette Single] Trent Dean Mixing

1991 Ricca Ricca Mixing

1991 Spellbound Paula Abdul Engineer

1991 WBBD - Bootcity! The Remix Album Bell Biv DeVoe Remixing

1991 What Comes Naturally Sheena Easton Engineer

1990 Notes of a Native Son Laquan Mixing

1990 Ralph Tresvant Ralph Tresvant Mixing

1990 Tommy Boy's Greatest Hits Mixing

1988 Too Tuff Brick Engineer

Breakdance Party Mixing

Decode Exilia Mixing Heal Andrea Renzullo Mixing

Jermaine Dupri Presents: Soulful Nights of Christmas Mixing

R&B Anthems [2016] Mixing

The Story Continues After Romeo Mixing Wear My Kiss Sugababes 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.

References

External links

• Dave Pensado on Discogs
• Pensado's Place
• Dave Pensado NAMM Oral History Program Interview (2015)