vidmoat MODULE 09 · LESSON 09.02 · 20 MIN WITH PRACTICE
Diagnose the problem before repeating the request
About this video
Alex is a fictional illustrated presenter with audio-reactive animation. Narration is AI-generated. Editor visuals are screenshot walkthroughs; inspect the interactive demonstrations below as you follow along.
Separate upload, preview, agent and render failures and take a focused next step.
“It is not working” can describe several different stages. An upload failure means the source may not be available. A preview failure may happen even when the source exists. An agent failure can leave a valid project unchanged. A render failure concerns producing the output file. Repeating the same prompt across all four does not diagnose any of them.
Start with the smallest check. Does the file appear in the library and finish uploading? Does a single clip play? Did the agent actually change the timeline? Does the export have a job reference or a specific error? Record the stage and the message before retrying.
On a phone, keep the app active while finishing an upload and check network stability. For an incompatible source, a compatible copy such as H.264 video with AAC audio in an MP4 container can be a useful troubleshooting option; keep the original. A retry should address a likely cause. Several simultaneous exports can add queue pressure without fixing the problem.
SEE IT IN VIDMOAT · INTERACTIVE WALKTHROUGH
Choose an export you can check
Real editor screenshots · September 2026 · Select a step, then tap the image to zoom.
Choose the destination
Open Export. This vertical practice project is 1080 × 1920. Choose where it is going, or use Quick check for an early review. No export job was started for these screenshots.
The destination preset is a starting point. Read the summary before you render.
Read the actual settings
Expand Advanced settings. Inspect format, resolution, frame rate and quality. A larger output cannot restore detail that was never in the source. Options depend on the current project and plan.
Here the source is vertical, so Full is 1080 × 1920. This is not evidence of a 4K export.
Review on a small screen
The phone browser presents the same export task in a narrower view. Scroll within the settings if necessary, and read the final resolution before starting.
After a real export, open the resulting file and check picture, sound, captions and ending.
Step 1 of 3
Follow along in Vidmoat
- Name the failed stage: upload, preview, agent action or export.
- Check the source upload and saved state before closing anything.
- Test a short single-clip sequence to isolate the issue.
- Use the visible Retry or recovery action once after addressing the cause.
- If it persists, use Get help with the project, failed stage, time and error or job reference.
A prompt you can adapt
Diagnose this project before editing again. Check whether the source upload completed, whether the selected clip is available, whether the last agent run applied changes, and whether an export job already exists. Report the failing stage and the next useful step.
Your turn
Use the troubleshooting worksheet to describe a hypothetical case where the preview is black but the file is in the library. List two checks before deleting anything.
What a successful attempt looks like
You investigate clip placement, source availability and decode or preview errors, while preserving the original file and project.
A common trap
Deleting a project to fix one failed preview can destroy useful work without addressing the source problem.
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IN THIS LESSON
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