A system for improving video codec performance, the system comprising: a pre-processing filter configured for downscaling by a variable amount an uncompressed video signal before sending the downscaled, uncompressed video signal to an input of a video codec; a first complimentary post-processing filter configured for upscaling the decompressed video signal received from an output of the video codec back to the original resolution of the input uncompressed video signal before transmitting the decompressed video signal, wherein the pre-processing filter and the complementary post-processing filter are configured to downscale or upscale the video signal by altering the spatial dimensions of video frames of the associated video signals; and a distortion measurement system configured for controlling run-time parameters of the pre-processing filter and the complimentary post-processing filter by varying the degree to which the spatial dimensions of the associated video frames are altered and based on analysis of characteristics of the uncompressed input video signal, characteristics of its compressed representation if it was originally delivered in a compressed state, a desired output data-rate, and the rate-distortion performance of the video codec, characterized in that the distortion measurement system includes: a second post-process filter coupled to the pre-processing filter configured for upscaling the uncompressed video signal received from an output of the pre-processing filter back to the original resolution of the input uncompressed video signal; a first distortion measuring means configured to measure pre and second post processing induced distortion; a second distortion measuring means configured to measure induced distortion of the video codec alone; and a third distortion measuring means configured to measure total induced distortion, wherein the distortion measurement system is configured to calculate an ideal distortion based on the measured pre and second post processing induced distortion and the induced distortion of the video codec and vary the degree to which the spatial dimensions of the associated video frames are altered for approaching the total induced distortion to the calculated ideal distortion. a pre-processing filter configured for downscaling by a variable amount an uncompressed video signal before sending the downscaled, uncompressed video signal to an input of a video codec; a first complimentary post-processing filter configured for upscaling the decompressed video signal received from an output of the video codec back to the original resolution of the input uncompressed video signal before transmitting the decompressed video signal, wherein the pre-processing filter and the complementary post-processing filter are configured to downscale or upscale the video signal by altering the spatial dimensions of video frames of the associated video signals; and a distortion measurement system configured for controlling run-time parameters of the pre-processing filter and the complimentary post-processing filter by varying the degree to which the spatial dimensions of the associated video frames are altered and based on analysis of characteristics of the uncompressed input video signal, characteristics of its compressed representation if it was originally delivered in a compressed state, a desired output data-rate, and the rate-distortion performance of the video codec, characterized in that the distortion measurement system includes: a second post-process filter coupled to the pre-processing filter configured for upscaling the uncompressed video signal received from an output of the pre-processing filter back to the original resolution of the input uncompressed video signal; a first distortion measuring means configured to measure pre and second post processing induced distortion; a second distortion measuring means configured to measure induced distortion of the video codec alone; and a third distortion measuring means configured to measure total induced distortion, a second post-process filter coupled to the pre-processing filter configured for upscaling the uncompressed video signal received from an output of the pre-processing filter back to the original resolution of the input uncompressed video signal; a first distortion measuring means configured to measure pre and second post processing induced distortion; a second distortion measuring means configured to measure induced distortion of the video codec alone; and a third distortion measuring means configured to measure total induced distortion, wherein the distortion measurement system is configured to calculate an ideal distortion based on the measured pre and second post processing induced distortion and the induced distortion of the video codec and vary the degree to which the spatial dimensions of the associated video frames are altered for approaching the total induced distortion to the calculated ideal distortion.