A method performed by one or more computing devices. The method includes identifying first and second portions of a digital video signal. First and second values of a plurality of quality metrics are determined for the first and second portions, respectively. The first and second values of the metrics are used to determine first and second values, respectively, of a plurality of picture quality parameters such that a signal transmitted using either the first or second values of the parameters would require at most a maximum output bitrate. The first values of the parameters may differ from the second values of the parameters. The first and second portions are adjusted using the first and second values, respectively, of the parameters. The first and second adjusted portions are transmitted in a continuous signal. Optionally, the first and second adjusted portions are compressed before they are transmitted.