Tiny Desk AI FAQ
Straight answers about Tiny Desk AI: Solo and 5-piece Band modes, photo rules, $9.99 pricing, TikTok posting, privacy and failed renders.
Tiny Desk AI turns 1 photo (Solo) or 5 people (Band) into a 15-second, 9:16 Tiny Desk-style concert video. The 720p MP4 starts at $9.99 ($9.99/video, 3 for $19.90 at $6.63/video, 5 for $29.90 at $5.98/video). Every answer below starts with the short answer. To start, turn one photo into a Tiny Desk AI video.
Specification summary: Tiny Desk AI is an independent photo-to-video generation service delivering watermark-free 15-second 9:16 vertical 720p MP4s featuring synchronized Charlie Wilson concert audio, 5-role stage mapping, and automatic 24-hour photo deletion from $9.99 per video without recurring subscriptions.
At a glance
| Specification | Solo Mode | 5-Piece Band Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Input Photos | 1 front-facing portrait (JPG/PNG/WebP, min 320 px) | 1 group photo with 5 faces, or 5 individual pictures |
| Concert Roles | Center lead vocalist | 1 Lead Singer · 2 Keyboard · 3 Sax · 4 & 5 Backup Singers |
| Video Output | 15.0 s · 9:16 vertical · 720×1280 MP4 · 24 fps · Watermark-free | 15.0 s · 9:16 vertical · 720×1280 MP4 · 24 fps · Watermark-free |
| Audio Sync | Pre-synced “Outstanding” audio with lip movement matching | Pre-synced “Outstanding” audio with 5-person facial animation |
| Privacy & Retention | Auto-deleted after 24 hours · Zero AI model training | Auto-deleted after 24 hours · Zero AI model training |
| Pricing | $9.99 / video (3 for $19.90 at $6.63/ea · 5 for $29.90 at $5.98/ea) · No subscription | $9.99 / video ($0 multi-person surcharge) · No subscription |
Questions
What is Tiny Desk AI?
Tiny Desk AI is an independent photo-to-video generator that transforms your portrait or group photos into a viral 15-second, 9:16 vertical 720p desk-concert parody with synchronized funk audio from $9.99.
Is Tiny Desk AI free to use?
Browsing templates and checking photo suitability are completely free, while rendering final watermark-free 15-second videos requires one-time credit packs starting at $9.99.
How much does Tiny Desk AI cost?
Tiny Desk AI offers one-time packs at $9.99 for 1 video ($9.99/video), $19.90 for 3 videos ($6.63/video, 34% savings), and $29.90 for 5 videos ($5.98/video, 40% savings) with zero subscriptions.
Is Tiny Desk AI a recurring subscription?
No, Tiny Desk AI operates exclusively on one-time payments where credits never expire and zero recurring charges ever occur.
Does Band mode cost more than Solo mode?
No, Solo mode (1 photo) and Band mode (5 people) cost the exact same single credit with zero multi-person surcharge.
How many photos do I need to make a video?
Solo mode requires 1 portrait photo, while Band mode accepts either 1 single group photo containing 5 visible faces or 5 individual single-person photos.
Can I put five friends in one Tiny Desk AI video?
Yes, Band mode replaces all five stage performers: the center lead singer, the keyboardist, the saxophonist, and both backing vocalists.
Which photo slot corresponds to which instrument in 5-photo Band mode?
Picture 1 is the center lead singer, Picture 2 is the keyboardist, Picture 3 is the saxophonist, Picture 4 is backup singer 1, and Picture 5 is backup singer 2.
How does single group photo mode assign roles in Band mode?
Our computer vision pipeline detects 5 faces in your group photo and maps them automatically based on their left-to-right horizontal spatial positions on the concert stage.
What technical video specifications do I receive?
You receive a 15.0-second, 9:16 vertical (720×1280 px), 24 fps H.264 MP4 with synchronized stereo AAC audio and zero watermarks.
Are there any watermarks on paid videos?
No, every generated video downloads completely free of watermarks or platform branding.
What photo formats and sizes are supported?
Uploads must be JPG, PNG, or WebP files up to 10 MB in file size with at least 320 pixels on the shortest edge.
What happens if a video render fails?
The credit consumed by a failed or rejected render is automatically and immediately refunded to your account balance so you can retry with another photo for free.
Can I test my photo before buying credits or rendering?
Yes, Tiny Desk AI provides a free pre-purchase photo quality check that verifies lighting, camera angles, facial occlusion, and resolution so you only generate when your photo is qualified.
What if my completed video has a severe visual defect?
If a completed video suffers from an objective quality defect (such as severe facial misalignment, missing band members, or a corrupted video file), you can report it within 24 hours for a one-time review and free redo. Subjective aesthetic preferences do not qualify.
Can I get a cash refund if I change my mind?
Yes, you can request a 100% refund on your first paid pack within 7 days of purchase by emailing support@tinydesk-ai.best if none of its credits have been consumed.
How long are my uploaded photos stored on the server?
Uploaded photos are stored in secure transient memory, deleted automatically after 24 hours, and never used to train artificial intelligence models.
Can I post my Tiny Desk AI video to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts?
Yes, the exported 9:16 MP4 format is natively optimized for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, and users should enable each platform’s built-in AI-generated content label.
Can I use photos of friends, celebrities, or colleagues?
You must hold consent and permission for every photo uploaded, and you may not create deceptive impersonations, harassment, or unauthorized commercial endorsements.
Is Tiny Desk AI affiliated with NPR or Charlie Wilson?
No, Tiny Desk AI is an independent parody creation tool with zero affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement from NPR, NPR Music, Tiny Desk Concerts, Charlie Wilson, or The Gap Band.
What payment methods are accepted on Tiny Desk AI?
Payments are securely processed through Stripe PCI-DSS Level 1 supporting Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, WeChat Pay, Alipay, Boleto, and iDEAL.
How does the Tiny Desk AI invite program work?
Share your personal invite link: you earn 1 point when a friend signs up with Google through it (up to 50), and 10 points when their first purchase clears after 7 days and they make their first video, and every 20 points automatically becomes 1 video credit that never expires. See the invite program rules.
Why didn't I get a sign-up point for a friend I invited?
Sign-up points are paid only for new accounts with a verified email (in practice, Google sign-ups) created from a different network than yours, within your limits of 50 in total and 10 per rolling 24 hours; a friend who signs up with an email and password, or on your own network, earns no sign-up point, though their first purchase still counts. Your invite page shows the reason for each friend.
Do invite points and credits expire or get refunded?
Credits earned from invites never expire and work for Solo and Band videos exactly like purchased credits, but invite points and credits cannot be refunded, cashed out or transferred, and the 10 first-purchase points are taken back if that friend's first order is refunded or disputed.
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Written and maintained by Andy SwiftPublished Last updated