When an AI video fails, most people start random prompt tweaks. That feels productive, but it usually makes the output worse because multiple variables change at once. If you searched soro2 or sora2 for troubleshooting, you likely want a stable workflow that tells you what to change first. This page is a decision tree that does exactly that.
Start from the baseline at vertical 9:16 presets, pair your output with hooks from TikTok hook templates, and keep the troubleshooting hub at common failures and fixes. For performance campaigns, connect this decision tree to the AI video ads workflow.
The smallest effective change principle
The fastest fixes come from changing one thing at a time. The smallest effective change is the smallest adjustment that improves the symptom without introducing new ones. When you change motion, lighting, and background together, you cannot tell what caused the improvement.
The rule is simple: identify the dominant symptom, apply one targeted change, then compare against the baseline. This prevents prompt chaos and keeps your workflow repeatable.
Branch 1: Flicker and shimmer
Flicker is usually a combination of motion and lighting. The first move is to reduce motion. If flicker persists, add a lighting anchor such as "consistent exposure" and remove mixed lighting cues. Keep the scene simple until the flicker stops.
Use the dedicated checklist in soro2 flicker fix when you need deeper guidance, and keep the lighting vocabulary consistent with the guidance in lighting prompts for video.
Branch 2: Drift and cropping
Drift happens when the prompt never told the model where the subject should stay. Add framing locks: "centered framing," "fixed framing," and "subject stays centered." Reduce lateral movement and switch to a slow push-in if you need motion.
Drift is often worse in 9:16, so keep backgrounds minimal and add safe headroom. If the issue persists, reduce motion and simplify the scene before changing style.
Branch 3: Warping and deformation
Warping shows up when the model cannot preserve shapes while also rendering motion or texture. The fastest fix is to reduce motion, then simplify the action. Add explicit constraints like "preserve shapes" and "stable edges." This is especially important for products and hands.
If the issue is product specific, switch to image-to-video and use the scripts in ecommerce image-to-video prompts. If the issue is character identity, review character consistency.
Branch 4: Blur and low clarity
Blur is usually caused by too much motion and weak lighting cues. Reduce motion, tighten framing, and simplify backgrounds. Then lock lighting with a studio phrase. Avoid complex movement until clarity is restored.
If you need movement language, use the safe phrases in camera movement promptsand keep the move minimal.
The one-variable iteration rule
After the dominant symptom improves, change only one variable per attempt. Log what changed and what improved. This makes your troubleshooting repeatable and keeps the team aligned.
For ads and UGC, keep the visual system locked and change only hooks. For ecommerce, keep the product image locked and change only camera movement or lighting mood.
Example walkthrough: fixing a drifting UGC clip
Imagine a talking-head UGC clip where the subject slowly slides left and the background flickers. The dominant symptom is drift. First, add framing locks: \"centered framing,\" \"fixed framing,\" and \"subject stays centered.\" Keep motion low and remove any pan language. Regenerate and compare.
If the drift improves but flicker remains, then move to lighting. Add a short lighting lock from lighting prompts for video and reduce motion one more step. Only after the clip is stable should you reintroduce movement. If you need UGC-specific prompt structure, use UGC-style AI video prompts as the base.
PromptBlocks: stability anchors
TRIAGE BASELINE:
Vertical 9:16. Duration: 4-6 seconds. Motion: low.
Camera: slow push-in. Background: clean and minimal.
Constraints: stable motion, no flicker, no warping, clean edges, consistent exposure.ANTI-WARP BLOCK:
no warping, no deformation, stable edges
preserve original shapes and proportions
small controlled motion only
keep labels and logos readable and consistentSettingsBox: stable baseline defaults
- Duration: 4 to 6 seconds (shorter if issues persist).
- Motion: low (increase only after stability).
- Movement: slow push-in; avoid handheld or orbit.
- Format: 9:16 via vertical presets.
If you need longer clips, lock the baseline first, then extend duration only after stability holds.
TroubleshootingBox: multi-symptom cases
- Flicker + drift: reduce motion and lock lighting first, then add framing locks.
- Warping + blur: reduce motion, simplify textures, then add anti-warp constraints.
- Drift + blur: tighten framing, simplify background, then lock lighting.
- Flicker + warping: reduce motion, use Lighting Lock, then simplify textures.
If you need a faster path to stable ads, use the repeatable templates in UGC-style AI video promptsand the product workflows in ecommerce workflows.
FAQ
What should I change first, prompt or settings?
Start with settings. Lower motion and shorten duration before rewriting the prompt. Then add a short stability block.
Why do fixes sometimes make results worse?
Usually because multiple variables changed at once or because the fix introduced conflicting cues. Go back to the baseline and change one variable at a time.
Is a longer duration always better quality?
No. Longer duration increases drift and flicker risk. Only extend duration after the baseline is stable.
What is the best baseline for short-form ads?
Vertical 9:16, low motion, slow push-in, consistent exposure, and a clean background.
Next steps
Use this decision tree whenever a clip fails. Diagnose the dominant symptom, apply the smallest change, and document the result. If you want a faster path to stable output, connect this page to your ads and ecommerce workflows.