A method comprising: receiving an input media stream encoded according to a first set of encoding parameters; while receiving a remaining portion of the input media stream, splitting a video portion of a received portion of the input media stream into input video chunks, and splitting each input video chunk of the video portion of the input media stream into input video subchunks; for each input video chunk of the video portion of the input media stream, each input video chunk being splitted into corresponding input video subchunks: assigning the input video chunk to m slave transcoders of a plurality of slave transcoders, wherein m is an integer that is greater than one; providing the input video chunk to the m slave transcoders for transcoding the input video chunk by separately feeding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk to each of the m slave transcoders, which transcode data from the first set of encoding parameters to a second set of encoding parameters; transcoding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk into a corresponding output video subchunk; when one of the m slave transcoders completes transcoding all input video subchunks of the input video chunk, commanding the other slave transcoders of the m transcoders to stop transcoding the input video subchunks of the input video chunk; and assembling the output video subchunks into an output video chunk corresponding to the input video chunk; and assembling the output video chunks into an output media stream. receiving an input media stream encoded according to a first set of encoding parameters; while receiving a remaining portion of the input media stream, splitting a video portion of a received portion of the input media stream into input video chunks, and splitting each input video chunk of the video portion of the input media stream into input video subchunks; for each input video chunk of the video portion of the input media stream, each input video chunk being splitted into corresponding input video subchunks: assigning the input video chunk to m slave transcoders of a plurality of slave transcoders, wherein m is an integer that is greater than one; providing the input video chunk to the m slave transcoders for transcoding the input video chunk by separately feeding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk to each of the m slave transcoders, which transcode data from the first set of encoding parameters to a second set of encoding parameters; transcoding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk into a corresponding output video subchunk; when one of the m slave transcoders completes transcoding all input video subchunks of the input video chunk, commanding the other slave transcoders of the m transcoders to stop transcoding the input video subchunks of the input video chunk; and assembling the output video subchunks into an output video chunk corresponding to the input video chunk; and assembling the output video chunks into an output media stream. assigning the input video chunk to m slave transcoders of a plurality of slave transcoders, wherein m is an integer that is greater than one; providing the input video chunk to the m slave transcoders for transcoding the input video chunk by separately feeding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk to each of the m slave transcoders, which transcode data from the first set of encoding parameters to a second set of encoding parameters; transcoding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk into a corresponding output video subchunk; when one of the m slave transcoders completes transcoding all input video subchunks of the input video chunk, commanding the other slave transcoders of the m transcoders to stop transcoding the input video subchunks of the input video chunk; and assembling the output video subchunks into an output video chunk corresponding to the input video chunk; and providing the input video chunk to the m slave transcoders for transcoding the input video chunk by separately feeding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk to each of the m slave transcoders, which transcode data from the first set of encoding parameters to a second set of encoding parameters; transcoding each input video subchunk of the input video chunk into a corresponding output video subchunk; when one of the m slave transcoders completes transcoding all input video subchunks of the input video chunk, commanding the other slave transcoders of the m transcoders to stop transcoding the input video subchunks of the input video chunk; and assembling the output video subchunks into an output video chunk corresponding to the input video chunk; and assembling the output video chunks into an output media stream.