Abstract: A digital compression apparatus and method uses a first compression encoding step associated with a first encode circuit to produce a first statistical data set from a first compression encoding of an initial digital video bit stream representing a group of pictures (GOP). The initial bit stream of the GOP is also stored in a first memory, while the first compression encoding is performed. Concurrently with, or following the first compression of the GOP data by the first encoder, a companion processor uses the first statistical data set and optional additional information to compute a set of filter and encoder control settings. The initial digital video bit stream of the GOP data previously stored in the first memory is retrieved from the memory after the first encoding step and is input as a time delayed version of the initial digital video bit stream through a set of filters and subsequently through a second compression encode circuit to produce a second compressed video bit stream of the GOP data.