When sony introduced the SL-HF900 it sported a new feature that would forever change Beta. Actually it was two new features, a jog dial and a shuttle ring. The shuttle ring is used to select different viewing speeds during playback pause, usually at 1/10, 1/5, normal, x2 and scan in forward and reverse. The more it is rotated either direction the faster the speed would be. This is extremely helpful for finding tape locations during editing. The jog dial moves the tape a single frame at a time either direction as it is rotated. It is also used for selecting channels, setting the clock and to set timer programs. In later high end Betas it is also used for setting editing points, index points, entering time search details and to compose title pages for superimposing over the video. Only a very few Betas came with the jog and wheel system, it proved to be one of the most sought after features Sony ever introduced. ©Misterßetamax go to homepage