Ok, I've seen the video university tutorial, as well as one other one that I can't remember the name of, and they both basically have the same instructions for calibrating an NTSC monitor. Everything's pretty simple, except the contrast (for me). The instructions say something along the lines of "turn the contrast all they way up till the white blooms and flares, and then turn it down until it just starts to respond." Well, on my monitor, that's just barely backed off from the highest you can set the contrast. Does anyone else have any other methods for setting it, so that it's farely accurate?

I know of no better way to set contrast, unless you're using hardware calibration.

Okay, then just to reiterate:

I want to turn the contrast all the way up, then back it off until the white starts to turn darken (at first it won't do anything, but as you turn your contrast knob down, it will eventually start to change). Is this right?

Yes, it will probably not change at first, then it will start to decrease.

I agree with Josh... It seems like a very subjective adjustment. "Until it responds" is quite vague. I have the same trouble adjusting my NTSC monitor. I think I'm doing it right, but unlike the brightness and chroma settings, it seems very hit-or-miss.

All methods that rely on the eye to make evaluations and measurements are very subjective. Only a hardware calibrator is accurate or effective method of adjusting monitors.