What are “bottom focus” and “top focus” variants?

The Line 6 Helix offers the ability to configure its ten primary footswitches in five ways:

  1. Bank up/down + eight patch selectors
  2. Bank up/down + four patch selectors on the bottom row and four FX on/off on the top row
  3. Bank up/down + four patch selectors on the top row and four FX on/off on the bottom row
  4. Bank up/down with eight FX on/off
  5. Ten FX on/off (with no bank up/down)

A patch with “top focus” puts the most essential effects control on the top row while a patch with “bottom focus” puts the most essential effects control on the bottom row. In many cases using mode (4) above gives access to additional options. In some cases mode (5) may allow a few additional control options.