A method of controlling a multimedia multipoint conference that includes two or more participating multimedia terminals that each includes one or more codecs. Also a controller to control the multimedia multipoint conference. The method includes receiving from each participant information on its codec capabilities, determining codec output characteristics for each participant, including one or both of a codec type and a bit rate, and sending instructions to the participants to set their respective codec to the respective determined codec output characteristics. After each participant's one or more codecs are set to the respective codec output characteristics, the method includes receiving a media stream from one or more of the participants. The media stream from any particular participant is encoded at the determined codec output characteristics for the particular participant. The method further includes passing the received media streams to each participant. The determined codec output characteristics is such that the received media streams may be passed to each participant without any decoding and re-encoding.