Common problems and what to try first. If your issue is not listed here, use the Studio Help search or check the Activity panel for a specific error message.
Missing Provider Key
Problem: The Generate button is disabled and says a provider key is needed.
What to do:
- Open Settings from the left sidebar.
- Check that you have added an API key for the provider you want to use.
- Make sure the key is for the correct provider — a key for one service will not work with another.
- If the key was working before, the provider may have rotated or revoked it. Check your provider account dashboard.
Model Unavailable
Problem: A model you used before is no longer in the list, or the model picker shows fewer options than expected.
What to do:
- Click the refresh button next to the model picker. This reads the current model list from the provider.
- If the model still does not appear, the provider may have removed or renamed it. Check your provider account for announcements.
- Try a different model that supports the same mode.
Generation Failed
Problem: A generation job shows a failure in the Activity panel.
What to do:
Read the failure message carefully. Common causes:
- Provider error — The provider returned an error. The message usually explains why (rate limit, content policy, invalid parameters). Adjust your request and try again.
- Unsupported feature — A control you enabled is not available for the selected model. The Generate rail marks unsupported controls. Try a different model or disable the unsupported option.
- Reference image issue — An attached reference image could not be processed. Make sure the image is still available in the asset shelf and the model supports image references.
- Network issue — Your internet connection dropped. Check your connection and retry.
Before retrying:
- Change the smallest useful part of the request first — model, prompt wording, duration, or reference image.
- If the same request fails repeatedly with the same error, the model or provider may have a persistent issue. Try a different model.
No Voice Profiles Available
Problem: The voice profile picker is empty or you cannot assign a voice to a character.
What to do:
- Studio references existing voices from your audio provider. It does not create voices inside the app.
- Log into your provider account (such as ElevenLabs) and confirm that you have voices set up.
- In Studio, refresh the voice list from the audio controls or Settings.
- Check that your audio provider key is saved in Settings.
Reference Image Problems
Problem: Reference images are not showing up or generation with references fails.
What to do:
- Reference wells are disabled — The selected model does not support image references. Switch to a model that supports them.
- Reference image appears but generation fails — The provider may reject the image format, size, or content. Try a different image.
- "Use Last Frame" options are missing — Make sure you are right-clicking a video asset (not an image) and that the video has been fully imported.
- Continuity frame is blank — The frame extraction may have failed if the video is very short or the file is damaged. Try a different video.
Export Problems
Problem: Timeline export fails with an error.
Overlapping Clips
The most common export error. Two clips on the same lane overlap. Fix:
- Scroll through the timeline and look for clips that touch or overlap on the same lane.
- Trim or reposition overlapping clips so they do not share the same time on the same lane.
- Small boundary overlaps are automatically handled. Focus on visible overlaps.
Missing Media
A clip references a file that no longer exists. Fix:
- Check the asset shelf for any assets marked with a warning.
- Remove the missing clip from the timeline and replace it with an available asset.
- If the file was accidentally deleted from the project, re-import it.
Cannot Save the File
If the save panel opens but saving fails:
- Make sure you are saving to a location you can write to — Desktop, Documents, or a folder you chose.
- Do not save to read-only locations, external drives that are not mounted, or network paths that require authentication.
- Try saving to Desktop first, then move the file afterward.
Export Seems Stuck
Video exports can take time, especially for long timelines or high-resolution clips. Wait a few minutes before assuming it is stuck. If the export has not progressed after several minutes, use Project > Cancel Export, check Activity for a specific message, and inspect the timeline before retrying.
"I Don't See My Generated Media"
Problem: A generation job completed but you cannot find the take.
What to do:
- Check the asset shelf. Generated takes appear alongside imported media.
- If the shelf is filtered, clear the filter to show all assets.
- Check the Activity panel in the left sidebar. Completed jobs show a status and link to the generated take.
- If the job shows "succeeded" but no asset appears, the provider may have returned content that Studio could not import. Try generating again with different settings.
- Rename the take so it is easier to find next time.
Timeline Editing Issues
Can't Select a Clip
Click directly on the clip body on the timeline. If the clip is very short, use the timeline zoom controls to zoom in, or move the playhead near the clip and try selecting again.
Undo Doesn't Do What I Expected
Edit > Undo reverses the most recent timeline action. The menu label shows what will be undone. If you are unsure what will happen, check the menu before choosing Undo.
Clips Move When I Don't Want Them To
Magnetic snapping may be pulling clips together. Turn snapping off with the magnet control, or hold Option while dragging to bypass it for one move.
Linked Audio Gets Out of Sync
Generated video and audio clips are linked for trim, split, and supported move operations when Studio can identify the pair. If they become desynchronized, it may be because one clip was moved independently. Select both clips and reposition them together, or undo the move that separated them.
App Behavior
Studio Feels Slow
- Large timelines with many high-resolution clips take more processing power.
- Try collapsing the sidebars for a larger, more responsive viewer.
- Restart Studio if performance degrades noticeably over a long session.
A Control Is Grayed Out
Studio disables controls when they are not applicable. Common reasons:
- The selected model does not support the feature.
- No clip is selected (for timeline commands).
- No provider key is saved (for generation controls).
- The project is in a state where the action does not make sense (e.g., trying to export an empty timeline).
If a control you expect to work is disabled, check these conditions first.
Getting More Help
If you cannot resolve an issue:
- Search the in-app Help for the error message or symptom.
- Check the Activity panel for specific failure details.
- Verify that your provider credentials are current and the provider service is operational.
Studio does not collect usage data or send error reports. If you need to report a bug, describe what you were doing, what you expected, and what happened instead.
Tips
- Start with Activity. Provider failures, generation preparation issues, exports, assistant failures, and QA notes usually leave useful context there.
- Change one thing before retrying. Switch the model, remove a reference, shorten the prompt, or reduce duration. Avoid changing everything at once.
- Check Settings when generation fails before starting. Missing keys and unsupported provider routing are easier to fix there than from a failed job.
- Use small timelines for diagnosis. A short test export can tell you whether the issue is the whole project or one part of the timeline.
Watch Out For
- Provider errors are not always Studio errors. Rate limits, policy failures, model outages, and invalid provider parameters can come directly from the selected provider.
- Disabled controls are usually intentional. Studio disables controls when the selected model or current selection does not support them.
- A successful job can still need review. Generated media may import correctly but still need QA, renaming, trimming, or replacement.