A computer- implemented method, comprising: performing a first pass encoding on a first frame (310, 410) of a set of frames (305, 405) for a streaming application; determining an initial quantization parameter based on the first pass encoding; deriving an alternative quantization parameter for the first frame based on at least one other frame of the set of frames; performing a first encoding of the first frame using the initial quantization parameter to produce a first encoded frame and performing a second encoding of the first frame using the alternative quantization parameter to produce a second encoded frame; selecting between the first encoded frame and the second encoded frame for transmission as part of an encoded stream based on the streaming application; and transmitting the encoded stream, wherein determining an initial quantization parameter based on the first pass encoding comprises determining an estimated complexity for the first frame based on the first pass encoding; and characterized by deriving an alternative quantization parameter for the first frame based on at least one other frame of the set of frames comprises: determining a historical complexity associated with the at least one other frame; and comparing the estimated complexity to the historical complexity, wherein in response to the historical complexity being greater than the estimated complexity, a value for the alternative quantization parameter less than the initial quantization parameter is determined, and, in response to the historical complexity being less than the estimated complexity, a value for the alternative quantization parameter greater than the initial quantization parameter is determined. performing a first pass encoding on a first frame (310, 410) of a set of frames (305, 405) for a streaming application; determining an initial quantization parameter based on the first pass encoding; deriving an alternative quantization parameter for the first frame based on at least one other frame of the set of frames; performing a first encoding of the first frame using the initial quantization parameter to produce a first encoded frame and performing a second encoding of the first frame using the alternative quantization parameter to produce a second encoded frame; selecting between the first encoded frame and the second encoded frame for transmission as part of an encoded stream based on the streaming application; and transmitting the encoded stream, wherein determining an initial quantization parameter based on the first pass encoding comprises determining an estimated complexity for the first frame based on the first pass encoding; and characterized by deriving an alternative quantization parameter for the first frame based on at least one other frame of the set of frames comprises: determining a historical complexity associated with the at least one other frame; and comparing the estimated complexity to the historical complexity, wherein in response to the historical complexity being greater than the estimated complexity, a value for the alternative quantization parameter less than the initial quantization parameter is determined, and, in response to the historical complexity being less than the estimated complexity, a value for the alternative quantization parameter greater than the initial quantization parameter is determined. determining a historical complexity associated with the at least one other frame; and comparing the estimated complexity to the historical complexity, wherein in response to the historical complexity being greater than the estimated complexity, a value for the alternative quantization parameter less than the initial quantization parameter is determined, and, in response to the historical complexity being less than the estimated complexity, a value for the alternative quantization parameter greater than the initial quantization parameter is determined.