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Mixing With Dave Pensado: How to Get More Out of Auto-Tune

“I’ve been using Auto-Tune for so long—it’s always been a part of my arsenal” – Dave Pensado.

In the world of music production, few people have made as much of an impact as Dave Pensado. His mixes for artists like Shakira, Beyonce, and Christina Aguilera helped define the sound of modern pop and R&B. While Pensado started mixing in the 1970s, he’s never lived in the past. His fresh approach and passion for creativity have kept him on top of his game—and on the top of the charts—for decades.

When he’s not mixing hit records, he hosts the most educational show in the recording industry: “Pensado’s Place.” Check out his in-depth tutorial on getting more out of Auto-Tune EFX+. (You can download your own copy of Auto-Tune here.)

Dave Pensado teaches you how to get even more out of Auto-Tune.

Mixing Under the Influence

Dave Pensado’s outsized influence can be attributed to two main factors. The first is that as a lifelong student, he never stopped developing both his technical and creative skills. When old-school mixers were clinging to all-analog workflows, Pensado pioneered mixing in the box, (as well as the use of Auto-Tune). Creatively, he’s never been afraid to take chances and develop new sounds rather than rehashing the old ones.

 

The second factor in making him so influential is that Dave Pensado is a great teacher. He’s mentored some of the biggest mixers in the business and many of his former assistants and engineers have become icons in their own right. Legends such as Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down), Jaycen Joshua (Jay-Z, Justin Beiber), and Dylan “3-D” Dresdow (Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas) all got their start working for Pensado.

Dave Pensado shares his mixing knowledge.

It’s easy to see Dave’s Pensado influence. At the 2020 NAMM show, Dave hosted a live episode of “Pensado’s Place” featuring producer/mixers Finneas O’Connell (Billie Eilish), Louis Bell (Post Malone, Camila Cabello), and Alex Tumay (Kanye West, Drake, and 21 Savage).

Sharing the Knowledge

While some mixers (understandably) keep their techniques closely guarded secrets, Pensado has been famously generous with his knowledge. Not only with the A-listers in music production, but with anyone with a legitimate desire to make great records. It was in that spirit that Dave, along with his partner Herb Trawick, launched his weekly series “Pensado’s Place.”

He’s famously said that, “It’s better to sound new, than to sound good. But the great ones do both.” Clearly, his passion for learning and willingness to take chances have made Dave Pensado one of the great ones.
Every week on “Pensado’s Place”, Dave and Herb interview leading figures in music production and technology. These interviews provide insights into the recording process that is unparalleled by anything that came before it. In addition to the interviews, his “Into the Lair” segment gives a deep dive into Dave’s mixing techniques. The result is weekly, hour-long master class in music production taught by actual masters. And among the masters of music production, Dave Pensado continues to set the standard and inspire the next generation.
In 2020, Dave Pensado was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the NAMM TEC Awards. It was a fitting tribute for a man who has inspired and educated an entire generation of creators.
“I’ve been using Auto-Tune for so long—it’s always been a part of my arsenal” – Dave Pensado. To download your copy of Auto-Tune, just click here.