How to Make the Tiny Desk Outstanding AI Video
From one photo to a 19-second desk concert you can post,
in eight steps. Starts at 10 credits.
- 01
Upload the lead singer's photo
This is the only photo you need. The lead gets the two longest close-ups: the opening side shot and the big laugh. Use a sharp, front-facing photo of one adult, shoulders up, in even light.
No sunglasses, hats over the eyes or heavy filters. Only use photos of people who agreed to be in the video.
- 02
Fill the band, or leave it to AI
Open “Add bandmates” to give a friend the sax solo, the keys or one of the two backup spots. Every empty spot is played by an invented AI musician, so the band always has five people, like the meme.
The sax solo at 13–16 seconds is the moment people laugh at most. Give it to the friend who will enjoy it.
- 03
Pick outfits (optional)
Leave the field empty to keep what everyone wears in their photos, or dress the whole band with one line: “matching red tracksuits”, “team windbreakers”, “Christmas sweaters”. The room is always the classic set: bookshelves, a red keyboard, boom mics.
- 04
Choose the model and quality
Start with Seedance 2.0 Mini at 480p (10 credits) to check that the faces work. For the version you post, use Seedance 2.0 or 2.5 at 720p or 1080p. The price is shown on the button before you spend anything.
Seedance 2.0 models film 13 s, then 6 s after part 1 finishes, and join the parts on the hard cut into the sax solo. Seedance 2.5 films all 19 seconds in one take.
- 05
Confirm consent and generate
Tick the box to confirm everyone in the photos is an adult who agreed, then press Generate. Credits are reserved when the job starts and returned automatically if it fails. Most videos take 8–15 minutes; you can close the tab and come back.
- 06
Watch and download
The video appears in the “My video” tab of the generator and in My videos, where you can play it again and download the MP4 (9:16, ready for TikTok, Reels and Shorts). Downloads stay available for 7 days.
- 07
Use the licensed sound when you post
On Mini, Fast and 2.0 your band already performs to the trend's sound; Seedance 2.5 plays an original groove. For the post itself, pick the trend sound from the TikTok or Instagram music library, turn the video's own audio down, and slide the song so the big high note lands on the lead's close-up.
Timing guide: lead close-up from about 7 to 13 seconds, sax solo from 13 seconds, final pose from about 16.5 seconds.
- 08
Caption it as AI
Say it's an AI parody in the caption (for example “AI parody, made with friends who said yes”) and use the platform's AI-content label. Common tags: #tinydeskai #outstanding #tinydesk #aivideo.
If something looks off
Faces drifting usually means the photo is small, dark or turned away: try a sharper front-facing one. If a bandmate looks like the lead, give them their own photo or leave the spot to AI. A failed job returns its credits on its own; if anything else goes wrong, write to hello@tinydeskoutstandingai.org with the job ID from My videos.