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Dirty Loops - Fractal Tone Tour with Henrik Linder

I use the Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III because it kicks ass

The Heart of Henrik’s Sound

Henrik Linder, the bass virtuoso of Dirty Loops, relies heavily on the Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III for its versatility and reliability, making it the central piece of his sound. This powerful processor allows him to achieve a wide range of tones and effects essential for the band’s complex musical arrangements. Let's break down Henrik's live and studio tones.  

Henrik Linder - Solo (Dirty Loops - Run Away)


Meet Henrik Linder & Dirty Loops

Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, Henrik attended the prestigious Royal College of Music with his bandmates, drummer Aron Mellergårdh and pianist/vocalist Jonah Nilsson. Dirty Loops, formed in 2008 combining Jazz fusion, funk, funk-pop, jazz, prog, has produced several key albums that showcase Henrik’s innovative bass techniques and the band's unique approach to music. Their debut album, "Loopified" (2014), features original tracks and showcases their skillful rearrangements of popular songs. Notable tracks include "Hit Me," which became popular in Japan, and their viral covers of "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga and "Baby" by Justin Bieber.

Time travel - Dirty Loops Baby (Justin Bieber cover)


Play Slap Bass Like a Beast - Scott's Bass Lessons


Current Lineup

  • Henrik Linder: Bass
  • Jonah Nilsson: Lead vocals, Piano/Synth
  • Aron Mellergårdh: Drums

Why Fractal Audio?

Watch from 0:49

Henrik’s journey with Fractal Audio began some time ago, more recently deciding to switch out his FM9 for an Axe-FX III as the heart of his rig. Henrik crafts one preset per song, varying in complexity from single-scene setups to those with eight scenes. This allows him to dynamically change tones and effects during performances without manual adjustments. His presets are designed to replicate the exact sounds needed for different parts of a song, whether it's a clean tone, a slap bass effect, or a complex solo sound.

Since we play most of the songs to a click, a MIDI goes into the MIDI in to the Axe-Fx III, then it kind of switches everything for me automatically so I don't have to worry.
Henrik Linder

Dirty Loops - Rock You


Tone Breakdown

1. Henrik’s Live and Studio Setup

On stage, the EBS amps & cabs provide onstage volume for Henrik. The audience hears the direct stereo signal from the Axe-Fx III with amp and cab simulation coming from the Fractal. In live settings, Henrik’s setup has evolved from a wet/dry/wet rig with the FM9 to a more straightforward stereo output with the Axe-Fx III, which simplifies his rig and ensures a consistent sound. Henrik’s reliance on Fractal Audio products extends to the studio, where he appreciates the ease of programming and the ability to achieve the precise tones needed for recording.

I ran it in a wet-dry-wet thing which was very unnecessary. Now, when I program everything, it’s just like a stereo out. It’s much easier because the sound is more consistent.

It’s also very reliable and doesn’t break down, which is a very nice thing on tour

Henrik Linder

The most powerful guitar processor of our time

Key Albums

  • Loopified (2014): The debut album that introduced their unique fusion of jazz, pop, and funk, featuring reimagined covers and original tracks that showcased their virtuosic musicianship.
  • Phoenix (2020): Marked a return with a fresh and polished sound, blending intricate musical arrangements with catchy hooks and showcasing their growth as artists.
  • Turbo (2021): Continued their exploration of genre-blending with more experimental sounds and complex compositions, pushing the boundaries of their signature style.

    Henrik appreciates the Axe-Fx III for allowing him to create unique sounds that would be difficult to achieve with traditional pedals. He often starts with a sound in mind and tweaks it until he achieves the desired effect.

    Usually I have a sound in mind. There's always a way to get there.

    Henrik Linder

    One notable application is his use of synth bass sounds, which he blends with his live bass signal to create rich, layered tones.

    I just wanted to sound like kind of a fake Moog bass but with a BL that I blended in with the bass, so I have both of them at the same time.

    Henrik Linder Interview with the FM9 - Scott's Bass Lessons


    Key Singles

    • Hit Me (2014): One of their breakthrough singles, known for its catchy chorus and complex instrumental sections.
    • Rock You (2020): A fan favorite that combines powerful vocals with intricate musical arrangements.
    • Runaway (2024): Their latest single, showcasing a matured sound with emotive vocals and intricate instrumental work, reflecting their continuous evolution as a band.

    2. Clean Tones

    Henrik relies on the Axe-Fx III to maintain clean tones that do not color the sound of his instrument. This ensures that the natural sound of his bass is preserved, which is crucial for certain parts of Dirty Loops' music.

    The main sound I use most of the time is the very clean stuff. It doesn’t color the sound at all, which is a really nice thing.

    For his slap bass sound, Henrik uses a combination of EQ and compression. This subtle processing ensures his slap tone cuts through the mix without overwhelming the overall sound.
    This is a normal thing which is kind of like a little bit of EQ and then a slap sound is just a little bit of compression and a little bit of EQ, but it’s all in.
    Nord at NAMM 2024: Joel Lyssarides ft. Henrik Linder & Roni Kaspi

    3. Solo Tones

    Henrik’s solo tones are tailored with a bit of mid boost and slight cuts in high and low frequencies. This helps his solos stand out, often enhanced with stereo delay and reverb for added depth.
    Some of the more normal solo sounds have a little mid and a little less high and a little less bass.

    4. Special Effects

    Some presets include octave effects and harmonic enhancements. These are used sparingly to add emphasis during specific musical passages.
    In some places, I want to do a harmonic, and then there’s like, it’s a little louder and it’s like a little more mid and it’s in stereo with a delay and a little reverb on, so it pops out.
    Henrik enjoys experimenting with the synth block within the Axe-Fx III. By mimicking synth bass sounds with its three oscillators, he creates unique hybrid tones that blend traditional bass with synth textures. This versatility is a testament to the Axe-Fx III’s robust processing capabilities and fast response time.

    5. Runaway Sound

    Henrik describes the "Runaway" patch as a particularly noisy and loud sound that is unique to the Axe-Fx III. This patch involves using pitch effects and stacking other effects to create a distinct, powerful tone.
    This is the runaway patch. It’s really noisy and loud, but it’s a unique sound that’s only in the Axe-Fx. It’s just a pitch effect with some stacked elements, and it’s used in the weird verse sections. It makes a lot of noise, but that's part of its charm.
    He further explains the use of octaves and different amps to enhance this sound.
    Before I learned to program this, I used the SY-200, the Boss pedal, in combination, and that’s like the whammy sound. One of them is pitched up like two octaves and one octave at the same time into two different amps with a lot of chorus. The glitch is just a tremolo I set up to be choppy enough, and it’s a stack delay as well, so everything keeps getting louder the more you play.
    Henrik Linder
    Dirty Loops - Follow the Light (live)

    6. Expanding the Tone

    The Axe-Fx III also helps Henrik maintain a clean signal with minimal noise, which is crucial for live performances.
    It has a really fast response time and doesn't make a lot of noise either; it's very silent.
    Henrik Linder
    Henrik uses the harmonizer effect at the end of some songs to add a distinctive, guitar-like quality to his bass, enhancing the sonic landscape of the band's music.
    I have some of the harmonizer effects, which are pretty fun, but that’s just, you know, like at the end of some songs where I just want to have an effect.
    Dirty Loops - Rock You feat. Lari Basilio LIVE from the #JammJam at Roskilde

    Henrik often finds that mistakes made while tweaking settings can lead to interesting and usable sounds.
    I did a mistake by tweaking it, and then it sounds kind of dope even though it resets in weird places.
    Henrik Linder
    Henrik highlights the unique capabilities of the Axe-Fx III’s showcasing the Plex Delay, which simplifies achieving complex delay effects that would otherwise require extensive setup with other gear.
    I think only the Axe-Fx could do this, or at least have only one block. You could do all of this in the Plex Delay because it’s eight parallel delays. With other effects, you need to actually put four stereo delays in a chain and do a lot of work. Here, it’s just like, yeah, one push and then edit it. So that’s a really cool thing.
    Henrik Linder

    Dirty Loops Interview

    For more on Dirty Loops, check out this interview with Rick Beato, Henrik Linder, Jonah Nilsson, and Aron Mellergårdh. Also make sure to follow Dirty Loops online.

    In the Room With Dirty Loops! - Rick Beato

    Follow Dirty Loops online

    For more insights on using the Axe-Fx III and other Fractal Audio Systems products, visit the Product Page, Fractal Audio Wiki, or Forum. To purchase your unit, head to our shop and for in-depth learning, check out Cooper Carter’s Complete Fractal Audio Master Class Series.