diff --git a/src/codec/decoder/mod.rs b/src/codec/decoder/mod.rs
index cff353b..4fc4f33 100644
--- a/src/codec/decoder/mod.rs
+++ b/src/codec/decoder/mod.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,16 @@ use ::{Codec, Error, Discard, Dictionary};
 pub struct Decoder(pub Context);
 
 impl Decoder {
-	pub fn open(mut self, codec: &Codec) -> Result<Opened, Error> {
+	pub fn open(mut self) -> Result<Opened, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), ptr::null(), ptr::null_mut()) {
+				0 => Ok(Opened(self)),
+				e => Err(Error::from(e))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn open_as(mut self, codec: &Codec) -> Result<Opened, Error> {
 		unsafe {
 			if codec.is_decoder() {
 				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), ptr::null_mut()) {
@@ -43,13 +52,13 @@ impl Decoder {
 		}
 	}
 
-	pub fn open_with(mut self, codec: &Codec, options: Dictionary) -> Result<Opened, Error> {
+	pub fn open_as_with(mut self, codec: &Codec, options: Dictionary) -> Result<Opened, Error> {
 		unsafe {
 			if codec.is_decoder() {
-					match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), &mut options.take()) {
-						0 => Ok(Opened(self)),
-						e => Err(Error::from(e))
-					}
+				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), &mut options.take()) {
+					0 => Ok(Opened(self)),
+					e => Err(Error::from(e))
+				}
 			}
 			else {
 				Err(Error::InvalidData)
@@ -59,7 +68,7 @@ impl Decoder {
 
 	pub fn video(self) -> Result<Video, Error> {
 		if let Some(ref codec) = find(self.id()) {
-			self.open(codec).and_then(|o| o.video())
+			self.open_as(codec).and_then(|o| o.video())
 		}
 		else {
 			Err(Error::DecoderNotFound)
@@ -68,7 +77,7 @@ impl Decoder {
 
 	pub fn audio(self) -> Result<Audio, Error> {
 		if let Some(ref codec) = find(self.id()) {
-			self.open(codec).and_then(|o| o.audio())
+			self.open_as(codec).and_then(|o| o.audio())
 		}
 		else {
 			Err(Error::DecoderNotFound)
@@ -77,7 +86,7 @@ impl Decoder {
 
 	pub fn subtitle(self) -> Result<Subtitle, Error> {
 		if let Some(ref codec) = find(self.id()) {
-			self.open(codec).and_then(|o| o.subtitle())
+			self.open_as(codec).and_then(|o| o.subtitle())
 		}
 		else {
 			Err(Error::DecoderNotFound)
diff --git a/src/codec/encoder/audio.rs b/src/codec/encoder/audio.rs
index 09be933..ee6a09d 100644
--- a/src/codec/encoder/audio.rs
+++ b/src/codec/encoder/audio.rs
@@ -1,29 +1,56 @@
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
+use std::ptr;
 
 use libc::c_int;
 use ffi::*;
 
-use super::Encoder;
-use ::{Packet, Error};
+use super::Encoder as Super;
+use ::{Packet, Error, Dictionary, Codec};
 use ::frame;
 
-pub struct Audio(pub Encoder);
+pub struct Audio(pub Super);
 
 impl Audio {
-	pub fn encode(&mut self, frame: &frame::Audio, out: &mut Packet) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+	pub fn open(mut self) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
 		unsafe {
-			let mut got: c_int = 0;
+			match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), ptr::null(), ptr::null_mut()) {
+				0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+				e => Err(Error::from(e))
+			}
+		}
+	}
 
-			match avcodec_encode_audio2(self.as_mut_ptr(), out.as_mut_ptr(), frame.as_ptr(), &mut got) {
-				e if e < 0 => Err(Error::from(e)),
-				_          => Ok(got != 0)
+	pub fn open_as(mut self, codec: &Codec) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			if codec.is_encoder() {
+				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), ptr::null_mut()) {
+					0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+					e => Err(Error::from(e))
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				Err(Error::InvalidData)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn open_as_with(mut self, codec: &Codec, options: Dictionary) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			if codec.is_encoder() {
+				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), &mut options.take()) {
+					0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+					e => Err(Error::from(e))
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				Err(Error::InvalidData)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
 impl Deref for Audio {
-	type Target = Encoder;
+	type Target = Super;
 
 	fn deref(&self) -> &<Self as Deref>::Target {
 		&self.0
@@ -35,3 +62,26 @@ impl DerefMut for Audio {
 		&mut self.0
 	}
 }
+
+pub struct Encoder(pub Audio);
+
+impl Encoder {
+	pub fn encode(&mut self, frame: &frame::Audio, out: &mut Packet) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			let mut got: c_int = 0;
+
+			match avcodec_encode_audio2(self.0.as_mut_ptr(), out.as_mut_ptr(), frame.as_ptr(), &mut got) {
+				e if e < 0 => Err(Error::from(e)),
+				_          => Ok(got != 0)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+impl Deref for Encoder {
+	type Target = Audio;
+
+	fn deref(&self) -> &<Self as Deref>::Target {
+		&self.0
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/codec/encoder/subtitle.rs b/src/codec/encoder/subtitle.rs
index 03f1df7..d96547b 100644
--- a/src/codec/encoder/subtitle.rs
+++ b/src/codec/encoder/subtitle.rs
@@ -1,26 +1,55 @@
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
+use std::ptr;
 
 use libc::c_int;
 use ffi::*;
 
-use super::Encoder;
-use ::Error;
+use super::Encoder as Super;
+use ::{Error, Dictionary, Codec};
 
-pub struct Subtitle(pub Encoder);
+pub struct Subtitle(pub Super);
 
 impl Subtitle {
-	pub fn encode(&mut self, subtitle: &::Subtitle, out: &mut [u8]) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+	pub fn open(mut self) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
 		unsafe {
-			match avcodec_encode_subtitle(self.as_mut_ptr(), out.as_mut_ptr(), out.len() as c_int, subtitle.as_ptr()) {
-				e if e < 0 => Err(Error::from(e)),
-				_          => Ok(true)
+			match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), ptr::null(), ptr::null_mut()) {
+				0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+				e => Err(Error::from(e))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn open_as(mut self, codec: &Codec) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			if codec.is_encoder() {
+				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), ptr::null_mut()) {
+					0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+					e => Err(Error::from(e))
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				Err(Error::InvalidData)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn open_as_with(mut self, codec: &Codec, options: Dictionary) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			if codec.is_encoder() {
+				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), &mut options.take()) {
+					0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+					e => Err(Error::from(e))
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				Err(Error::InvalidData)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 }
 
 impl Deref for Subtitle {
-	type Target = Encoder;
+	type Target = Super;
 
 	fn deref(&self) -> &<Self as Deref>::Target {
 		&self.0
@@ -32,3 +61,24 @@ impl DerefMut for Subtitle {
 		&mut self.0
 	}
 }
+
+pub struct Encoder(pub Subtitle);
+
+impl Encoder {
+	pub fn encode(&mut self, subtitle: &::Subtitle, out: &mut [u8]) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			match avcodec_encode_subtitle(self.0.as_mut_ptr(), out.as_mut_ptr(), out.len() as c_int, subtitle.as_ptr()) {
+				e if e < 0 => Err(Error::from(e)),
+				_          => Ok(true)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+impl Deref for Encoder {
+	type Target = Subtitle;
+
+	fn deref(&self) -> &<Self as Deref>::Target {
+		&self.0
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/codec/encoder/video.rs b/src/codec/encoder/video.rs
index 35204fb..8eb7c8e 100644
--- a/src/codec/encoder/video.rs
+++ b/src/codec/encoder/video.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,51 @@
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
+use std::ptr;
 
 use libc::{c_int, c_float};
 use ffi::*;
 
-use super::{Encoder, MotionEstimation, Prediction, Comparison, Decision};
-use ::{Packet, Error, Rational};
+use super::Encoder as Super;
+use super::{MotionEstimation, Prediction, Comparison, Decision};
+use ::{Packet, Error, Rational, Dictionary, Codec};
 use ::frame;
 use ::format;
 
-pub struct Video(pub Encoder);
+pub struct Video(pub Super);
 
 impl Video {
-	pub fn encode(&mut self, frame: &frame::Video, out: &mut Packet) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+	pub fn open(mut self) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
 		unsafe {
-			let mut got: c_int = 0;
+			match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), ptr::null(), ptr::null_mut()) {
+				0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+				e => Err(Error::from(e))
+			}
+		}
+	}
 
-			match avcodec_encode_video2(self.as_mut_ptr(), out.as_mut_ptr(), frame.as_ptr(), &mut got) {
-				e if e < 0 => Err(Error::from(e)),
-				_          => Ok(got != 0)
+	pub fn open_as(mut self, codec: &Codec) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			if codec.is_encoder() {
+				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), ptr::null_mut()) {
+					0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+					e => Err(Error::from(e))
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				Err(Error::InvalidData)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	pub fn open_as_with(mut self, codec: &Codec, options: Dictionary) -> Result<Encoder, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			if codec.is_encoder() {
+				match avcodec_open2(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec.as_ptr(), &mut options.take()) {
+					0 => Ok(Encoder(self)),
+					e => Err(Error::from(e))
+				}
+			}
+			else {
+				Err(Error::InvalidData)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -226,7 +254,7 @@ impl Video {
 }
 
 impl Deref for Video {
-	type Target = Encoder;
+	type Target = Super;
 
 	fn deref(&self) -> &<Self as Deref>::Target {
 		&self.0
@@ -238,3 +266,26 @@ impl DerefMut for Video {
 		&mut self.0
 	}
 }
+
+pub struct Encoder(pub Video);
+
+impl Encoder {
+	pub fn encode(&mut self, frame: &frame::Video, out: &mut Packet) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+		unsafe {
+			let mut got: c_int = 0;
+
+			match avcodec_encode_video2(self.0.as_mut_ptr(), out.as_mut_ptr(), frame.as_ptr(), &mut got) {
+				e if e < 0 => Err(Error::from(e)),
+				_          => Ok(got != 0)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+impl Deref for Encoder {
+	type Target = Video;
+
+	fn deref(&self) -> &<Self as Deref>::Target {
+		&self.0
+	}
+}