In the multi mode, the software processing unit notifies the hardware processing unit by batch of multiple settings information sets about multiple output pictures before the hardware processing unit starts to encode an input picture, and the hardware processing unit performs continuous encoding for the output pictures, based on the settings information sets notified of by the software processing unit, without a notification signifying a completion for every picture, and upon completion of encoding for all of the output pictures, sends an interrupt notification signifying a completion of encoding to the software processing unit.