MACD Pro+ — Cross Quality & Divergence
MACD Pro+ guide — adaptive chop-zone cross grading (Strong vs Weak), price-normalized mode, 4-phase histogram, pivot divergence engine, MTF & alerts.
1) Getting Started
How do I add the indicator to my chart?
On TradingView, go to Indicators → Invite-only scripts → MACD Pro+ (Quantzee).
If you don’t see it, ensure your TradingView username has been granted access after subscribing. MACD Pro+ plots in a separate pane below the chart.
Which markets and timeframes does it support?
Works on all symbols and all timeframes. Multi-timeframe data is requested with lookahead off.
2) Core Concept
What makes MACD Pro+ different from the standard MACD?
The underlying oscillator is the standard MACD — fast EMA minus slow EMA, with an EMA signal line. MACD Pro+ rebuilds it around the one problem every MACD trader knows: most signal-line crosses near the zero line are whipsaw noise. It adds five layers:
- Cross quality grading via an adaptive chop zone (Strong vs Weak crosses).
- Normalized mode — MACD as a percentage of price for cross-symbol comparison.
- 4-phase histogram — colored by side and direction.
- Divergence engine — pivot-based, non-repainting.
- Multi-timeframe dashboard — zero-line and signal-line state across five timeframes.
3) Cross Quality Grading (Adaptive Chop Zone)
The script computes a noise band around the zero line, sized from the standard deviation of the MACD’s own recent values (Noise Band Lookback default 100; Noise Band Width default 0.5 × stdev). The band is drawn as a shaded chop zone, so whipsaw territory is visible at a glance.
- Signal-line crosses that occur INSIDE the band are graded Weak and marked with a small grey ×.
- Crosses OUTSIDE the band are graded Strong and marked with a solid circle.
Because the band is derived from the MACD’s own volatility, it self-adjusts to every symbol and timeframe — no manual threshold tuning.
4) Normalized Mode
Optionally express MACD as a percentage of price instead of absolute points. Standard MACD values are not comparable across symbols — a reading of 50 on a large index versus 0.5 on a low-priced stock says nothing relative. Normalized mode puts every instrument on the same scale, which makes visual comparison, screening, and alert thresholds portable across your whole watchlist.
5) 4-Phase Histogram
The histogram is colored by both side and direction:
| Phase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rising above zero | Bullish momentum accelerating |
| Falling above zero | Bullish momentum decelerating |
| Falling below zero | Bearish momentum accelerating |
| Rising below zero | Bearish momentum decelerating |
So momentum acceleration versus deceleration is readable instantly, before any cross occurs. A fading histogram (lighter shade) while price pushes to new extremes often precedes the divergences this script detects.
6) Divergence Engine
Pivot-based detection on the MACD line:
- Bullish divergence — price makes a lower low, MACD makes a higher low.
- Bearish divergence — price makes a higher high, MACD makes a lower high.
Each is drawn with a connecting line and a Bull/Bear label on the MACD line. Pivots confirm a configurable number of bars after the pivot forms (Pivot Lookback Right, default 5) and never repaint once printed. Min/Max Bars Between Pivots (default 5 / 60) constrain valid divergence ranges.
7) Multi-Timeframe Dashboard
A compact table shows, for five user-selected timeframes (default 5m, 15m, 1h, 4h, Daily), whether MACD is above or below zero and whether it is above or below its signal line — a one-glance momentum confluence check.
A chart-timeframe strong cross in the same direction as the higher-timeframe zero-line position is structurally stronger than one against it.
8) Non-Repainting Behavior
Do the signals repaint?
- All conditions are computed from completed-bar values.
- Divergence pivots confirm a configurable number of bars after the pivot forms (default 5) and never repaint once printed.
- Multi-timeframe data is requested with lookahead off.
For alerts, “Once per bar close” is the recommended trigger setting.
9) Settings
Defaults in brackets reflect the shipped script.
- MACD Core: Fast Length [12], Slow Length [26], Signal Length [9], Source [close], Normalized Mode [off].
- Cross Quality Filter: Show Graded Cross Markers [on], Noise Band Lookback [100], Noise Band Width [0.5 × stdev].
- Divergence Engine: Show Divergences [on], Pivot Lookback Left [5], Pivot Lookback Right [5], Min Bars Between Pivots [5], Max Bars Between Pivots [60].
- Multi-Timeframe Dashboard: Show MTF MACD Table [on], Position [Top Right], five timeframes [5m / 15m / 1h / 4h / D].
10) Alerts
Six alert conditions are available:
- Strong bullish cross
- Strong bearish cross
- Zero-line cross up
- Zero-line cross down
- Bullish divergence
- Bearish divergence
Set them with “Once per bar close” for confirmed signals. Alerts can be routed to email, mobile push, or webhooks for automation.
11) Best Practices
- Filter the chop: treat the shaded chop zone as a no-trade filter — grey × crosses are historical whipsaw; solid circles have real displacement from equilibrium.
- Know your trade type: strong bullish crosses below zero are mean-reversion entries; strong bullish crosses above zero are continuation entries — the zero side of the marker tells you which.
- Use the histogram early: a fading histogram while price pushes to new extremes often precedes a divergence.
- Screen across symbols: turn on normalized mode so alert thresholds and comparisons are portable across your watchlist.
12) Notes
MACD Pro+ is a technical analysis tool, not financial advice and not a complete trading system. Always apply your own risk management. Works on all symbols and timeframes.