How to Make a Tiny Desk AI Video

Before you begin

TinyDesk AI Maker is an independent service, not affiliated with or endorsed by NPR or TikTok. Its intended output is an AI-edited portrait video, not a recording of an actual performance. A reference sample and its music do not give you rights to reuse them.

Purchasing and generation remain disabled until the required licensed source/template and checkout or generation provider are available and the relevant configured checks pass. The steps below explain the workflow for when it is available; they are not a promise that checkout or generation is currently active.

1. Get consent and check your rights

Choose one adult and obtain their explicit consent to use their likeness in an AI video. You also need the appropriate separate rights and permissions for every photo or other submitted medium and for the source video and audio used in the project. Do not assume a sample, a track, or the service grants commercial rights. If you intend to publish or use the result commercially, check the permissions for that particular use first.

2. Prepare one or two photos

Select one clear portrait of that consenting adult. You may add a second portrait, but it must show the same person. A visible face, even lighting, and a simple background make the subject easier to assess. Check each file's dimensions and size in your device's photo or file properties:

• Each side must be 512–5999 pixels.
• Width divided by height must be between 0.5 and 1.25.
• Each image may be at most 10 MiB; both together may be at most 20 MiB.

If a photo is outside those limits, crop or resize a suitable original and check the resulting dimensions and file size again. Keep a natural-looking face and enough room around the subject.

3. Check the studio and credits

Visit the home page and studio and check the displayed availability before attempting a submission. One generation costs 10 credits. The described packs are one-time purchases of 10, 30, or 50 credits, corresponding to one, three, or five generations; they are not subscriptions. See pricing for current details. Purchase availability depends on the required licensing and checkout configuration, so the presence of a pack description does not mean checkout is active.

4. Submit when generation is available

In the studio, add the portrait and the optional second image of the same adult, confirm the requested permissions, and follow the displayed generation controls. The intended result is a roughly 17.67-second, 480 × 854 portrait video. This is the output duration, not a guaranteed processing time. Follow the task status rather than submitting again if the outcome is uncertain; credits may remain reserved while the task is investigated. A confirmed generation failure restores the charged site credits once.

5. Review and share carefully

Inspect the result on a vertical screen for facial consistency, unexpected artifacts, and readability. Download it promptly if available; permanent storage is not included. Make sure your permissions cover any added music, footage, and intended distribution, and identify AI-generated content appropriately instead of implying a real performance took place.

For ideas on composition and portrait selection, see how to make an outstanding Tiny Desk AI video.