The Lagrangian coder control together with the parameter choice is presentedthat lead to the creationof thenew hybrid video coder specificationsTMN-10 for H.263 and TML for H.26L. An efEcient approach for the determinationof the encoding parameters is developed. It is shown by means of experimentalresults that the Lagrangemultiplier for the macroblock mode decision corre sponds to the negative slopeof the distortion-ratecurve of thepre diction error coding. This distortion-ratecurve is parameterized by the quantizationparameter of the DCT coefficientsmotivating the establisheddependency with the Lagrangemultiplier.