Grammy-Nominated audio engineer, producer, and musician based in Los Angeles, with 15+ years in Pro Tools. Trusted by major artists to turn raw tracks into timeless records. Credits include Lil Wayne, Nas, Macy Gray, The Manhattan Transfer, R-Mean, Offset, Ty Dolla $ign, Scott Storch, 2 Chainz, and Gucci Mane, producing and mixing songs that carry emotional depth, radio-ready clarity, and an undeniable groove. Beyond the technical side, I care most about collaboration, making sure every project captures the artist's vision. Whether it's mixing a track, producing from scratch, or tracking vocals, I bring creative problem-solving and a real ear for detail to every session. If you want someone who understands both the art and the science of a record, tell me what you're working on and where it's stuck, and I'll tell you exactly how I'd approach it.

Gabriel De Sant'Anna

PRO
5.0 (1 review)

Grammy-Nominated audio engineer, producer, and musician based in Los Angeles, with 15+ years in Pro Tools. Trusted by major artists to turn raw tracks into timeless records. Credits include Lil Wayne, Nas, Macy Gray, The Manhattan Transfer, R-Mean, Offset, Ty Dolla $ign, Scott Storch, 2 Chainz, and Gucci Mane, producing and mixing songs that carry emotional depth, radio-ready clarity, and an undeniable groove. Beyond the technical side, I care most about collaboration, making sure every project captures the artist's vision. Whether it's mixing a track, producing from scratch, or tracking vocals, I bring creative problem-solving and a real ear for detail to every session. If you want someone who understands both the art and the science of a record, tell me what you're working on and where it's stuck, and I'll tell you exactly how I'd approach it.

Available to hire

Grammy-Nominated audio engineer, producer, and musician based in Los Angeles, with 15+ years in Pro Tools. Trusted by major artists to turn raw tracks into timeless records. Credits include Lil Wayne, Nas, Macy Gray, The Manhattan Transfer, R-Mean, Offset, Ty Dolla $ign, Scott Storch, 2 Chainz, and Gucci Mane, producing and mixing songs that carry emotional depth, radio-ready clarity, and an undeniable groove.

Beyond the technical side, I care most about collaboration, making sure every project captures the artist’s vision. Whether it’s mixing a track, producing from scratch, or tracking vocals, I bring creative problem-solving and a real ear for detail to every session.

If you want someone who understands both the art and the science of a record, tell me what you’re working on and where it’s stuck, and I’ll tell you exactly how I’d approach it.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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Language

English
Fluent
Portuguese
Advanced
Spanish; Castilian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Freelance Audio Engineer at Sant’anna Beats
March 1, 2020 - Present
Freelance audio engineer; main studio shut down due to Covid; collaborated with multiple clients and projects across various studios.
Director of Sound at KRS-ONE
February 28, 2014 - September 1, 2016
Scheduled appointments, maintained calendar, coordinated meetings and travel. Facilitated front-of-house and stage sound; ensured artist security; confirmed Ryder obligations with venues.
Head Audio Engineer/Manager/Producer at Recon Recording
January 1, 2010 - September 1, 2021
Scheduled, set up and ran sessions from tracking 1 client to up to 25 [Choir]. Edited audio and MIDI; knowledge of signal chains; tuned vocals/instruments with autotune and Melodyne; maintained computer systems and studio upkeep.
Music Theory/Drums/Audio Software - Teacher
March 1, 2007 - Present
Teach Pro Tools, production basics, micing technique, studio protocol and etiquette; music theory, reading and playing music, drum set and percussion.

Education

Associate of Arts: Commercial Music at Los Angeles Valley College
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2010
Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music: Instrumental/Vocal Performer at Los Angeles Valley College
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2010
Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music: Music Arranging at Los Angeles Valley College
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2010
Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music: Music Notation at Los Angeles Valley College
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2010
Certificate of Achievement in Commercial Music: Music Technology at Los Angeles Valley College
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2010
Associate of Arts at Los Angeles Valley College
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2010

Qualifications

15+ years with Pro Tools/Studio Environment
January 1, 2010 - September 30, 2025
Experience directing dialogue, instrumentation, and vocal tracks with artists, actors and voice-over talents
January 1, 2010 - September 30, 2025
Over two decades as a multi-instrumentalist musician in recording environments
January 1, 2002 - September 30, 2025
Strong project management, organization, and communication skills
January 1, 2010 - September 30, 2025
Apple/Microsoft Proficiency
January 1, 2002 - September 30, 2025
Signal Chain Knowledge
January 1, 2010 - September 30, 2025
Autotune (Pitch Correction) Proficiency
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2035

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Other, Retail
    Candle of the Devil – R-Mean, Nas

    Candle of the Devil was built on atmosphere, a haunting track where every vocal and layer needed to carry both grit and intention.

    Working with R-Mean and Nas meant engineering sessions that demanded focus, emotion, and a clear sense of storytelling through sound.

    When a song has depth like this, my job is to get out of the way of the message while making sure every word lands.

    I love shaping that kind of emotional clarity, the kind that keeps a listener locked in from the first bar to the fade.

    If you’re crafting records that tell a story and need someone who can bring technical precision to raw expression, that’s where I thrive.

    Engineer | Vocal Director | Sonic Storyteller

    Over You – Macy Gray

    Engineering Over You was a masterclass in capturing emotion without losing authenticity.
    Macy Gray has one of the most distinctive voices in modern soul, and my goal was to preserve every ounce of that raw, human texture while keeping the production smooth and balanced.

    During tracking, I focused on creating a space where her performance could breathe, letting the rasp, phrasing, and dynamics come through naturally.
    I handled the recording and prep work to ensure that when it went to mix, every take carried the full emotional weight of her delivery.

    My engineering laid the foundation: clean gain staging, warm mic tone, and expressive depth that holds up across any playback system.

    I’m always drawn to projects that live in that space between polish and passion, where the listener can feel the artist’s presence in the room.

    If your music needs that same care and sensitivity in the recording process, I bring both the technical precision and the empathy to make it happen.

    Engineer | Vocal Producer | Story-Focused Sound Designer

    God Only Knows – The Manhattan Transfer

    Working on God Only Knows with The Manhattan Transfer was all about capturing the warmth and precision of timeless vocal harmony.
    This group has been perfecting their sound for decades, so my focus as engineer was to honor that legacy through every take — clean, balanced, and emotionally true.

    Each voice needed its own space while blending seamlessly into the group’s signature texture.
    I focused on microphone placement, vocal tone shaping, and session flow to ensure every harmony locked in naturally.
    Even though I wasn’t responsible for the final mix, my goal was to deliver tracks that were already musically balanced and ready for post-production finesse.

    For projects rooted in artistry and performance, I make sure the technical side never gets in the way of the emotion.
    Whether it’s an intimate jazz session or a full vocal ensemble, I bring an ear for detail and a respect for musicianship that keeps the integrity of the performance intact.

    If your project demands warmth, clarity, and that human touch that turns a recording into an experience, let’s make it happen.
    Engineer | Vocal Specialist | Detail-Driven Collaborator

    Chapo’s Daughter - R-Mean (feat. Offset & Ty Dolla $ign)

    https://www.youtube.com/embed/jq-nhU7gfPE?si=9xOOcz3r9sL7mf98

    About the Project

    When I engineered Chapo’s Daughter, the goal was simple: make it hit like a freight train but stay clean enough to play anywhere.
    The track brings together heavyweights R-Mean, Offset, and Ty Dolla $ign, along with legendary producer Scott Storch, and my job was to ensure every sound earned its space.

    The low end needed to punch without crowding the vocals, and the verses had to cut through even the thickest layers of production.

    This record demanded a balance of raw power and polished clarity, and that’s where I come in.

    My approach is always about making the artist’s intent shine. Whether it’s a chart-topping rap feature or an underground release, I’m there to elevate the sound.

    From recording sessions to final mix tweaks, I help build the bridge between creative vision and professional release quality.

    If you’re looking for an engineer who understands how to blend technical precision with real energy, this is exactly what I deliver:

    impact, detail, and emotion that translates across every system from studio monitors to stadium speakers.

    If your next record needs clarity, punch, and emotion, let’s make it happen.
    Engineer | Vocal Producer | Problem Solver