How to Make an Outstanding Tiny Desk AI Video

See an example from our studio

This is a 19-second example made in our studio. It shows the desk-concert style; your photos, cast and generated performance will differ.

What to prepare

• One lead singer photo. Add up to four more photos if you want friends in the band.
• JPG, PNG or WebP files, up to 20 MB each. Each side must be over 300 and under 6,000 pixels, and the width-to-height ratio must be between 0.4 and 2.5. One adult per photo makes roles easier to assign.
• Permission from every person shown. Do not upload photos of minors. Confirm the consent checkbox before creating.
• An account and enough credits for your chosen model and resolution. The studio shows your cost before generation.

For clearer references, use a sharp portrait with even light and a visible face. If a photo looks blurry or too small in its slot, remove it with the × and upload a clearer image.

Curious about the meme behind the format? Read what the Outstanding Tiny Desk AI trend is.

How to make a Tiny Desk AI video

1. Upload the lead singer photo. Open the generator and upload one clear photo of an adult who agreed to its use. Use a JPG, PNG or WebP file no larger than 20 MB, over 300 and under 6,000 pixels on each side.
2. Add optional bandmates. Open Add bandmates and upload a separate photo for any of the left backing singer, right backing singer, keyboard and vocals, or sax player roles. Leave any role empty if you do not want to assign a person to it.
3. Choose a model and resolution. Open Advanced settings and select Mini, Fast, 2.0 or 2.5. Then choose a resolution supported by that model. The finished video is 19 seconds, vertical 9:16, with the studio soundtrack.
4. Review the cost and create. Confirm that every person in the photos is an adult who agreed to their use. Sign in if prompted, then check your balance and the credit cost displayed for the selected model and resolution.
5. Watch and download. Follow the task in the studio. When the video is ready, review it in the player and select Download video. You can also return to My Creations in your account.

Add friends to your band

The lead singer photo is required. The other four slots are optional: left backing singer, right backing singer, keyboard and vocals, and sax player. Left and right are from the viewer’s perspective.

Add a distinct photo to each role when you want specific friends in those places. An empty slot may be filled with another AI-generated adult musician, and the final cast can vary.

Choose a model and resolution

Open Advanced settings to choose a model. The finished video is 19 seconds at every setting. Available resolutions depend on the selected model.

These are the current displayed costs. The generator shows the applicable cost for your account before you create, so use that value if the table changes. A fresh setup opens at Mini and 480p for 10 credits. If you click create while signed out, your current setup is saved in this browser tab for the sign-in redirect. One-time packs start at $9.90 for 10 credits; see the pricing page for available packs.

The video is vertical 9:16. You can also add an optional outfit idea before creating.

Sign in, check credits and create

If the studio says Sign in to create, select the create button to save your current setup in the tab and continue through sign-in. The studio restores that setup when you return; if browser storage is unavailable, sign in first and upload the photos again. Check the balance and confirm the photo-permission statement before you start.

The selected model and resolution determine the credit cost. Review that amount next to the create button. If you need credits, compare the one-time packs on pricing.

Select Create My Video to submit the task. You can follow its status in the studio. Creation tasks remain private in your account; anyone who receives a shared media link may be able to view that media.

Watch and download the result

When generation finishes, the studio shows the video player and a Download video link. Save the MP4 from there. If you leave the page, open My Creations after signing in to return to your task.

If a task fails, the task system restores its credits. Check the task and your balance in My Creations. If the credits do not return, contact support at support@tiny-desk-ai.video.

Audio and usage rights

The generator includes the studio soundtrack in the finished 19-second video. It creates a new performance scene from your photos; it does not use the original NPR video as the visual source. The included soundtrack is provided by the studio, but this page does not grant separate rights to publish music or recordings on other platforms. Check the permissions and platform rules before sharing.

You still need permission to use every person’s photo. If you replace the soundtrack or add other audio after downloading, check that you have the necessary rights for the track and your intended platform.