Abstract: Examples methods and apparatuses including a statistical multiplexer with the bitrate smoother are described herein. An example apparatus may include a statistical multiplexing (statmux) system for use with a communication link. The statmux system includes a bitrate smoother and a plurality of encoders. An encoder of the plurality of encoders is configured to provide a respective encoded bitstream of encoded coding units. The bitrate smoother is configured to select a group of encoded coding units. The selected group of encoded coding units includes encoded coding units of at least two different respective encoded bitstreams. The bitrate smoother further configured to adjust respective transmission timing of the selected group of encoded coding units. The adjusted respective transmission timing of the group of encoded coding units of the at least two different respective encoded bitstreams overlap during a time interval.