A video encoder including an encoder circuit, a quantizer circuit and a control circuit. The encoder circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of coefficient values and motion vectors in response to a video stream, a first control signal, a second control signal, and a number of quantized values. The control circuit may be configured to (i) generate the first control signal, the second control signal, and a quantizer index signal and (ii) set two or more quantization dead zones and two or more offsets to different values, where the quantization dead zones and the offsets are independently programmable. The quantizer circuit may be configured to generate the number of quantized values in response to the coefficient values, the quantizer index signal, the two or more quantization dead zones and the two or more offsets. A first coefficient value may be quantized using a first quantization dead zone and a first offset. A second coefficient value may be quantized using a second quantization dead zone and a second offset. The first and second quantization dead zones generally have different values. The first and second offsets generally have different values. Quantization calculations determining each quantized value take into account respective quantization dead zones and offsets.