--- title: Invalid Import Troubleshooting description: Learn why Move Genesis flags takes as invalid during import — with step-by-step fixes for filename errors, corrupt files, resolution mismatches, and more. --- [Skip to content](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/invalid-during-import#main-content) ![Move New Logo 2021-May-19-2025-01-26-31-8785-PM](https://docs.move.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Move%20New%20Logo%202021-May-19-2025-01-26-31-8785-PM.jpeg?width=45&height=45&name=Move%20New%20Logo%202021-May-19-2025-01-26-31-8785-PM.jpeg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Move](https://www.move.ai/) [Move](https://www.move.ai/) Welcome to the Move Knowledge Base - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Move Docs](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Troubleshooting](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en) 3. [Genesis](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#genesis) # Invalid Import Troubleshooting ### **What does "invalid take" mean?** When you import a folder of videos into a project, Genesis scans and validates every video file before accepting the take. If any check fails, the take is flagged as **invalid** and cannot be imported. The reason is shown in the take list next to the take name. No video data is lost — the files are never modified. You simply need to fix the underlying problem and re-import. ### **1 - Take name not found** 1. **Error message:** *Take name not found* 2. **What happened:** Genesis parses the take name from each video filename. If it cannot extract a recognisable take name from any file in the folder, the take is marked invalid. 3. **Troubleshooting Checklist:** 1. Filenames must follow the convention `camXX_.` — for example `cam01_scene01_take03.mp4` 2. Check there is no leading/trailing whitespace, special characters, or non-ASCII characters in the filename 3. All videos in the same folder must share the **same** take name segment --- ### **2 - Camera ID number is invalid** 1. **Error message:** *Camera ID number is invalid* 2. **What happened:** Genesis found a camera ID prefix in the filename (e.g. `cam`) but the numeric portion that follows is missing or non-numeric. 3. **Troubleshooting Checklist:** 1. Camera IDs must be numeric: `cam01`, `cam02`, …, `cam16` — not `camA`, `cam_left`, etc. 2. Leading zeros are fine (`cam01`), but the number itself must be a valid integer 3. Rename the offending files and re-import --- ### **3 - Duplicate camera IDs** 1. **Error message:** *Two or more videos have the same camera ID* 2. **What happened:** Two files in the same take suffix both parsed to the same camera ID (e.g. two files both named `cam03_take01.mp4`). 3. **Troubleshooting Checklist:** 1. Each camera must produce exactly **one** video file per take 2. Check for accidental duplicates (e.g. a file copied twice, or two cameras sharing the same ID in camera settings) 3. Remove the duplicate and re-import, or rename so each file has a unique camera ID --- ### **4 - Video file cannot be opened / Video is unreadable** 1. **Error messages:** 1. *Failed to open the video file* 2. *Video is unreadable* 2. **What happened:** 1. *Cannot be opened -* the file exists but Genesis cannot open the container at all. Common causes: corrupt file, unsupported container format, file is still being written. 2. *Unreadable -*  the file opened but frame data cannot be decoded. Common causes: codec not supported, partial transfer, or storage failure mid-recording. 3. **Troubleshooting Checklist:** 1. Confirm the file transfer from camera/SD card is **fully complete** before importing 2. Try playing the file in **VLC** or another media player - if it will not play, the file is corrupt 3. Check supported formats in the Genesis documentation (MP4/MOV with H.264 or H.265 are recommended) 4. Re-export or re-copy the file from the original camera/card, then re-import **If only some cameras fail** while others succeed, focus on the specific files that failed. Partial SD card corruption or incomplete copies are the most common cause. --- ### **5 - Video has too few frames** 1. **Error message:** *Video has too few or invalid number of frames: {N}* 2. **What happened:** The video contains 5 frames or fewer. Genesis requires more than 5 frames to process a take. 3. **Troubleshooting Checklist:** 1. This usually means a recording was started and stopped almost immediately, or the camera stopped early 2. Check the camera did not run out of battery or storage mid-recording 3. Re-record the take — there is no way to recover a clip that is genuinely too short --- ### **6 - Videos have different resolutions** 1. **Error message:** *Video files have different resolutions* 2. **What happened:** All cameras in a take must record at the **same resolution**. Genesis detected at least one camera with a different width or height. 3. **Troubleshooting Checklist:** 1. Open your camera app or review device settings — all cameras must be set to the same resolution before recording 2. Common mismatch: one camera left on a different preset from a previous session 3. Re-record with matching resolution settings on all cameras 4. If mixing camera models, ensure the chosen resolution is supported by all models in the rig. --- ### **7 - Inconsistent frame rates** 1. **Error message:** *Video framerate inconsistent with others. The fps difference {N} is more than 1* 2. **What happened:** The FPS difference between two cameras is **greater than 1**. For example, one camera at 24 fps and another at 30 fps would trigger this. **Note:** A small tolerance of up to ~1 fps is allowed to account for minor clock drift between devices. A difference of 2+ fps indicates a genuine misconfiguration or performance issue. **Troubleshooting Checklist:** - Confirm all cameras are set to the **same frame rate** in their settings before recording - Watch out for cameras that auto-switch frame rate based on lighting (e.g. anti-flicker mode) - Re-record with matching fps across all cameras --- ### **General diagnostic steps** - Using ffprobe to inspect a video file If you have `ffprobe` installed (part of the FFmpeg package), run the following in a terminal to inspect a video file: ``` ffprobe -v error -show_streams -show_format "path/to/your/video.mp4" ``` Key fields to look for: - `codec_name` — video codec (should be `h264` or `hevc`) - `width` / `height` — resolution - `avg_frame_rate` — frame rate as a fraction (e.g. `60/1` = 60 fps) - `nb_frames` — total frame count --- - [Genesis](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Overview](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#overview) - [System Prep & Setup](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#system-prep-setup) - [Genesis Live](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#genesis-live) - [Genesis Post](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#genesis-post) - [Output Data](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#output-data) - [Optimising your System](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#optimising-your-system) - [System Management](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#system-management) - [Release Notes](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/genesis?hsLang=en#release-notes) - [Move One](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/move-one?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Move One Pricing](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/move-one?hsLang=en#move-one-pricing) - [Move Platform](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/move-one?hsLang=en#move-platform) - [Move One iOS App](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/move-one?hsLang=en#move-one-ios-app) - [Using your Animations](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/move-one?hsLang=en#using-your-animations) - [Legacy Accounts - App Store Billing](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/move-one?hsLang=en#legacy-accounts-app-store-billing) - [Troubleshooting](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Z-Cams](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#z-cams) - [Genesis](https://docs.move.ai/knowledge/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#genesis) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://docs.move.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/1627650260615-1.jpg?width=24&height=24&name=1627650260615-1.jpg "Chill listening crop-3")](http://move.ai) www.move.ai Copyright © 2026, Move AI