I have a 15" JVC monitor (PAL) that is a bit long in the tooth now but still gives a very sharp and accurate image.

Something that has always puzzled me (but I have never done anything about it!) is the PULSE CROSS button. I understand that it can be used to detect problems in the monitors setup but can anyone please explain how?

While I'm here, I came across this article which seems to be a very usable guide to selecting monitors, at least in the NTSC world.

http://videoexpert.home.att.net/artic1/209mon.htm

Apologies if it's a repeat post.

Ian . . .

I don't believe pulse cross is used to detect problems with the monitor, it's used to look at the video signal (i.e. the sync pulses and other stuff you wouldn't normally see).

In vertical blanking interval, you may have things like VITC timecode. You might flip pulse cross on to see if VITC is there (although if you underscan you'll probably see VITC anyways). If you are working with DV, you probably won't need to worry about that stuff.

2- The article also talks about how the monitor can be useful for setting up analog gear. I don't have much experience here, since most work is done in digital formats nowadays (which don't have jitter or TBC errors).

Thanks Glenn,

I'm assuming that because I didn't understand more than three words of your answer, I probably won't ever need to use pulse cross!

Waaaaay over my head.

Cheers.

Ian . . .