TryTinyDesk guide
Tiny Desk AI tutorial: from photos to a finished clip
Last checked November 3, 2026
This walkthrough covers everything between “I want my friends in that Tiny Desk video” and a downloaded MP4: what to gather first, how the casting board works, the photo rules that matter, and what to do when a face comes out wrong.
Before you start
- One photo for each person you want in the band (one to five photos)
- A Google account or any email address to log in
- $9.99 for one video, whether you recast one seat or all five
The four steps
Choose who sits where
Open the casting board on the home page. The stage shows all five performers: lead vocals, sax, keys and two backing singers. Decide who the video is about and give them lead; that seat has the long laughing close-up.
Add the photos
Tap a ring on the stage or a name in the roster, then pick a photo. On a computer you can also drag an image onto a performer, or scan the QR code to send photos from your phone. Seats without a photo keep the original performer.
Confirm and start the render
Tick the parody box, log in and press render. If you have no credits yet, a pack picker opens and your seats stay filled while you pay.
Download
In about 7 to 10 minutes you get an email with a link. The video also appears under the casting board with two downloads: one with the song and one muted.
Photo rules that make the biggest difference
| Use | Avoid |
|---|---|
| One person, face toward the camera | Group photos and side profiles |
| Daylight or even indoor light, in focus | Dark, blurry or heavily compressed images |
| The whole face visible, waist-up if possible | Sunglasses, masks, hands or hair over the face |
| A real photo in everyday clothes | Cartoons, AI avatars, strong beauty filters, big logos |
What comes back
A vertical 9:16 MP4 at 720p, about 16 seconds long, with no watermark. The cut goes: the band, the lead's laughing close-up, the sax solo and the band again. You also get the same video without sound. Lip movement follows the original performance, so it lands on the beat but isn't a word-for-word lip sync.
If something looks off
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| The face is close but not quite them | Try a sharper, front-facing photo with nothing covering the face. Expect a strong resemblance, not an exact double. |
| A logo or text shows up on the clothes | Use a photo where the person wears plain clothes. |
| The original performer is still in a seat | We check every recast seat and redo misses automatically before delivery. If one still slips through, retry with a clearer single-person photo. |
| The video is frozen, garbled or silent | Email us within 7 days with the link and we return the credits. |
Posting it
Upload the version with the song first. If TikTok or Instagram mutes it, delete it, upload the muted file instead and pick “Outstanding” in the app's sound library. Keep it clearly a parody: a caption like “AI edit” helps.
Tutorial FAQ
Do I need an editing app or a template file?
No. There's nothing to edit or install. You add photos in the browser and download the finished file.
Can I leave some seats as they are?
Yes. Any seat without a photo keeps the original performer, and the price is the same however many seats you fill.
Can I close the tab while it renders?
Yes. We email you when it's ready, and it's waiting on the home page next time you log in.
Can I do it myself with a video AI model?
You can, if you're comfortable paying for renders per shot and spending an hour cutting, re-timing and adding the song. The casting board does all of that for you.
Can I use a photo of my pet?
The model accepts animal photos, but results with animals are less predictable than with people. If you try one, use a clear front-facing picture.