A method for adaptive encoding a video signal and an apparatus therefor. A predetermined frame resolution and quantizer step size are provided. A first input frame of the video signal is subsequently sampled and encoded based on the predetermined frame resolution and the quantizer step size, respectively. If the size of the encoded first input frame is substantially greater than a first predetermined encoding size, the predetermined frame resolution is reduced and the first input frame is sampled accordingly. The method further includes reducing the predetermined frame resolution if the time period spent in encoding is substantially greater than a predetermined encoding time. The method reduces packet loss or delay during transfer at constant bit rate.