Dave Pensado

Dave Pensado is a renowned Grammy Award-winning mix engineer, celebrated for his impeccable ability to craft high-quality mixes in diverse genres, from R&B and hip-hop to pop and rock. His career, spanning several decades, is defined by technical expertise, creative innovation, and a strong presence in the music industry.

Born and raised in the United States, Pensado's journey into the world of music engineering began in the 1970s and 1980s in Atlanta, where he honed his skills as a live and studio sound engineer. In 1990, he made the pivotal decision to relocate to Los Angeles, where he would cement his reputation as one of the most sought-after mix engineers in the industry. Over the years, Pensado has mixed between 200 and 250 songs a year at the renowned Larrabee Studios in Los Angeles, working with a wide array of top-tier artists across various genres.

Pensado is particularly known for his work on Mary J. Blige’s 2008 Best Contemporary R&B Album, Growing Pains, for which he won a Grammy Award alongside fellow engineers Jaycen Joshua and Kuk Harrell. His expertise in mixing has garnered him a long list of high-profile clients, including Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Elton John, Usher, Black Eyed Peas, and many others.

In addition to his engineering work, Pensado has become a prominent figure in the education and audio engineering community. In 2011, he launched a weekly online show, Pensado's Place, in collaboration with his manager and business partner, Herb Trawick. The show offers valuable insights into audio engineering techniques, product reviews, and discussions about industry practices. Pensado often shares his knowledge and expertise, demonstrating how to improve mixes with plugins, outboard gear, and microphones. The show also features interviews with notable figures in the music industry, including top mixing engineers, producers, and musicians.

Pensado’s influence extends beyond his own work, as he has inspired and educated countless aspiring engineers and producers through his Pensado's Place platform. On July 20, 2013, he and Trawick hosted the highly successful Pensado Gear Expo 2013 at Vintage King Los Angeles, where more than 1,000 industry professionals gathered to discuss and learn about the latest tools, technologies, and trends in music production and mixing. The event featured prominent guests, such as Al Schmitt, Steven Slate, Alex da Kid, Ryan Hewitt, and Robert Duncan.