waymda

Not mentioned above is that using Native allows you to get around any processor limitations in the hardware - ie create larger more CPU intensive patches. Likely assumed you're aware of that.

Because it's easier to complain to a forum, that could care less, than actually take action thats entirely within ones control - nothing new here. I mean, why wouldn't you if your profile shows you wiht 3 producs and 1500+ posts. By that point your seriously invested in the whinge fest, and get a great endorphin kick everytime your posts create action. Its what keeps the twit-verse and face-bork in business.

Whilst this is true - final balancing can reall only be done by ear - meter's can help get more consistent in the first place (much closer than no initial metering), and ensure you haven't started with your softest or loudest patch as the comparative point. If you reference no metering at any point you run the risk of creating consistently too hot (or cold) levels for your patches. Metering also helps provide an objective measure (our ears are subjective) and, when leveling a lot pf patches, helps with ear fatigue (listening too long) and our own flawed memories/perception of volume. Moving between patches and only leveling by ear will reult in needing to do it a large number of times to fine tune it - our ears and minds simply aren't as perfrect as we like to think an play lots of trick on us. I say this having learnt the hard way balancing an active set of 100+ patches over a long time (with many many more having moved in and out of the set). You may also need ot use more tools than the amp channel volume - other effects cabs etc all change the gain and perceived volume so matching volume adjustments at the end of the chain with a gain block or on the output block is easier and more consistent.

As a 2 x PC+ user the downside of the approach your considering (for me) was the workflow became a lot more complex, and difficult to get levels right and know how it would sound FoH. It required monitoring out the back of the cabs via the XLR to check signal levels, and the PC+ does not sound identical to FoH or other FRFR outputs so it means checking both sources to find the compromise. As a result I returned to all processing in the Helix so I can easily monitor levels, and sounds across sources, and I accept that the PC+ is where I compromise on tone. That is, is the PC+ good enough whilst FoH is what I want the audience to hear? In simple terms it just got too damned hard to create and manage patches and not woth the effort. I had similar issue when I tried using a pair of DT25s for more amp in the room sound on stage - it was even more complex to get 'right' :)

Keep it as simple as possible - if for no other reason than to make ease toruble shooting easier. I use the yamaha bluetoon midi (MD-BT01) to conect to an ipad or android tablet tablet and use bandhelper to display lyrics and change patches on the Helix. The patches and snapshots control my variax model and tuning, and in limited cases initial volume settings on the variax. That allows me to troubleshoot variax control issues purely via the Helix and patch control issues between the tablet and Helix. But I don't want or need multiway control. My use of midi has been scant, so simple issues like moving from the tablet to the ipad, with the same software and finding patches weren't changing on the helix took quite a while to troubleshoot. Mainly as I only touch midi as required and have to relearn things. It took me ages to realise I had made a setting in the setlist view I use on the tablet to allow it to send midi changes, and that the ipad had to have its view set up independently (even though it looked like the same view to me). If you're more confident with midi and use it regularly, clearly your expeience will be different.

Another thing to consider is how to train your ears/mind for how sounds in your headphones will translate to PA or other reproduction systems. If you already record material that may be easier as you can hear sounds you know across mediums. If not, getting a few tracks that you know inside and out that you can critically listen to on different systems to hear what sounds thin, full, or pokes out or hides (yes very technical terms) will help you understand building patches that translate. What you'll be learning is what frequencies are emphasised or suppressed - but thinking about it as how the instruments sound rather than knowing frequency ranges will help. If you can find some isolated guitar tracks for songs you like (there are some on youtube) that may also help you 'get' what the Helix is doing. As far as I can tell there are no shortcuts or super easy ways to relearn what you've heard for ages coming from amps and cabs. I suspect most of us here that are happy with our Helix have gone through this transition.

I used to have 1 set list as a library for al changes and maintenance of patches, and copy from there to each upcoming gig setlist using HX Edit. I reserved one setlist for testing/building new patches. I have cleared the factort setlists to make space and make facotry reset/rebuilds quicker, I only restore the Library and Test/build setlists. I started using this approach with a HD500x after trashing a few good patches by not managing them well enough and having a single master list that I moved the order of patches. However, I now only maintain the Library and use an app to control patch changes via bluetooth. As I sing as well, having lyrics, even as prompts is necessary so I have a tablet with the app in front of me. As well as the set lists for the night, there is a final catch-all set list on the app with everything else in alpha order so we can do requests super quick. Find the song in that set and bang, lyrics and the patch.

I use the same setup to change guitars and tuning and other variax paramteres within patches using snapshots with no gap/delay. Do you have multiple patches this happens on or just one? If one consider rebuilding from scratch. If multiple, consider checking all hardware connections first (eg new variax cable) before looking at software issues. On the cable, I've recently had one get flakey which was giving me intermittent dropouts and loss of variax control, and when wiggled it produced crazy feedback. At first I thought it was the guitar but tested across multiple to determine it was the cable. The cable is about 10 years old - so not super concerned with their reliability.

Helix as (power) attenuator = BANG https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_attenuator_(guitar) You are attenuating the input levels. Its an apples and oranges comparison to 'real attenuators' and will sound substantially different (what ever the lowered level input source). You will not be getting output stage distortion which is the intent of (power) attenuators and why they are used to allow the amp to work harder with lowered volume.

Not a LT user but a full Helix user, and love the scribble strips etc, and moved from a HD500x. No comparison on sound and 'feel' - I was sold when I demoed it in a store and haven't looked back. I have tried a LT and considering one for a back-up, and TBH I really didn't like the expression pedal feel. The throw is short and just felt hmmm wrong to me. If you can, I would suggest trying before buying. I'm also an 'old' dude :).

If you use Exp 1 for one assignment and Exp 2 for the other you can swap between them with snapshots - and should be able to set the fixed parameters where you want them. I'm assuming helix and onboard exp here, and nowhere near my gear to provide a more detailed explanation - I just know I have a patch that does something similar.

I definately hear a difference with bias in terms of when an amp breaks up and how, and I often set hum at zero (I have no need for atrifical/modelled noise in my amps, and couldn't get rid of noise for a while until I discovered this). The rest - hmmm not so much for me but for a god demo of them - see Mr S

My thought is that a heap of opinions from other people about their fav combos seems pretty futile in terms of understanding what works for you. Even more so when there's nothing to guide anyone on the sort of tones/material you're into. I'd have thoght whatching demos on YouTube and hearing what floats your boat would be a better starting point. Jason Sadites has a tone of dialing in videos that demo a range of combinations.

OK - there's a few things in you post and I'll try to untangle what I think you're asking. First - managing patches. Build a library of patches using one of the setlists and do all editing in that library. Name the setlists so you don't get confused (eg 'library', 'live', 'testing', etc) Assuming your set lists are pre-determined each week, copy the required patches in the required order to another setlist and use that setlist to move through the patches. This could be done on the unit on the day even. You will need to set your footswitches in a way that works for you. For me this is Stomp/Snap - with the ability to move up and down through presets using the far left switches, and a set of stomps along the top row and snapshots along the bottom. See page 66 of the manual. Another way is to navigate your library using a midi controller - I use an app called BandHelper and use blutooth midi on a tablet with a Yamaha wireless midi dongle to move between songs in my library. Takes a while to set-up but is amazing once done. When I first started using modelling I used the library method above and made/overwrote a performance setlist each gig. You should also learn about snapshots so you know how to change 'things' within patches for parts of your song - eg into, verse, chous, solo as a bais example. You can make changes ranging from things being turned on or off, through paramter changes. Yes this is complx at first, however you've moved away from stomp boxes and amps to something closer to a full programable rig that holds those things inside it. It will take time, but it gets easier. If you learn it you will find it very hard to go back to stomp boxes - unless you were already using a programmable rig. I would suggest watching some of Jason Sadites basic how to youtube videos https://www.youtube.com/c/JasonSadites These would be good starters

Production line bottle opener, accidently dropped in? [nope no idea]