Manny Marroquin (born September 21, 1971) is a Guatemalan-American record mixing engineer.[1] He has worked with artists and acts in the pop, R&B, hip hop and rock genres, including Rihanna, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Rosalía, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Bruno Mars, John Mayer, 2Pac, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Sia, Lana Del Rey, SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Lizzo, Glass Animals, and many more. As of 2024, Marroquin has received 18 Grammy/Latin Grammy Awards for his professional audio work.[2] He works out of his own Larrabee Studios.
Marroquin's family relocated to Los Angeles, California when he was nine years old due to the Guatemalan Civil War. After graduating from the prestigious Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, he began working at Enterprise Studios as a runner and worked his way up to an engineering position. His professional breakthrough occurred during a late-night studio session when a producer asked him for a rough mix. Impressed by Marroquin's work, the producer entrusted him with mixing the entire album, though it ultimately went unreleased. From there he became an in-demand mix engineer in studios around LA. In 2001, he started working out of Larrabee Studios, and as the studio sought new ownership, Marroquin assumed control and now runs the legendary studio. In 2015, he began building a sound studio with the intention of putting a restaurant inside of it. As of 2024, his speakeasy supper club, VERSE, has been thriving for over three years, boasting nightly live music with some of the best musicians around, and one of the finest sound systems with the best sound you can find anywhere. Additionally, Marroquin is in the process of constructing a second Larrabee facility, complete with recording suites, artist condos, and an event space.
Marroquin won his first Grammy in 2000 for Mary Mary's album, Thankful. In 2004, he received two Grammys for Album of the Year for Kanye West's The College Dropout, and Alicia Keys' The Diary of Alicia Keys. He won another Grammy for his work on the album Get Lifted by John Legend In 2005, and Battle Studies by John Mayer in 2011. The Grammy Museum, which opened in Los Angeles in December 2008, acknowledged Marroquin's musical achievement with its mixing exhibit. The interactive exhibit allowed players to mix a track under the guidance of Marroquin.
In 2013, Marroquin embarked on an exciting collaboration with Waves Audio, a leading developer of audio plugins and signal processors. Together, they launched a signature collection of virtual instrument effects designed to cater to the intricate needs of music producers and sound engineers. This bespoke collection features a range of powerful tools, including a meticulously crafted EQ for precise tonal shaping, an innovative Delay effect for creating complex echo patterns, a lush Reverb for adding depth and space, a versatile Tone Shaper to enhance harmonic content, the Triple D for de-essing, de-popping, and dynamic range control, and a dynamic Distortion plugin for adding grit and character to audio tracks. Each plugin was designed to reflect Marroquin's renowned approach to sound design, offering users a unique palette of sonic possibilities.
In 2022, Audeze, a prestigious manufacturer of high-end audio equipment, unveiled a partnership with Marroquin, resulting in the release of state-of-the-art headphones. This collaboration was driven by a mutual commitment to delivering unparalleled audio fidelity to creators and audiophiles alike. The MM-500s and MM-100s, the flagship products of this collaboration, are in high demand due to their exceptional sound quality, precision, and comfort. Marroquin, with his extensive expertise in audio production, played a crucial role in the development process, ensuring that these headphones meet the highest standards of sonic accuracy and performance. Designed for both studio and personal use, these headphones provide an immersive listening experience, capturing the intricate details and nuances of any audio production, making them an invaluable tool for professionals and enthusiasts striving for excellence in sound quality.
Manny Marroquin has also made significant contributions to the world of home audio through his collaboration with Sonos. Marroquin has been part of their soundboard since 2012, assisting one of the leading manufacturers of smart speakers and sound systems to refine and perfect the audio tuning of their products. Marroquin worked closely with the Sonos team to ensure their speakers deliver superior sound quality, marked by clarity, balance, and depth.
The Grammy Awards are presented annually by The Recording Academy.[1] Marroquin has received 18 wins from 38 nominations as of 2023.[2][3][4]
Manny Marroquin discography at Discogs
Manny Marroquin at AllMusic
Official website