Band guide
How to make a five-person Tiny Desk AI video
Short answer: upload one photo for the lead, then add up to four friends on keys, sax, back-left and back-right. Empty seats stay fictional AI musicians. The full five-person band costs $9.90, the same as just you, and comes back in about 10–15 minutes as a private 19-second video with the original song.
Updated
What does a five-person result look like?
Where does each friend show up?
| Seat | Photo in | In the result | On screen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | |  | Shots 1 and 3 (0:00, 0:07) Both close-ups, including the long grin. |
| Keys |  |  | Shots 2 and 5 (0:01, 0:16) Front of the band, at the red keyboard. |
| Back-left |  |  | Shots 2 and 5 Backing singer behind keys, on the left. |
| Back-right |  | | Shots 2 and 5 Backing singer behind keys, on the right. |
| Sax |  |  | Shot 4 (0:13) The solo close-up. |
Put the funniest person on lead. The lead owns nearly 8 of the 19 seconds, including the grin that makes the meme. If the video is a birthday, a send-off or a friendly roast, that person goes here.
Fill the band with the group. Keys and the two backing singers share the band shots; sax gets shot 4 alone. All stills come from one real result made from synthetic photos. The template guide shows all five shots with their times.
Which seats should I fill with 2, 3 or 4 people?
| Cast | Seats to fill | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | Lead + sax | The friend gets a solo moment of their own in shot 4. |
| 3 people | Lead + back-left + back-right | Two friends sing behind keys in both band shots. |
| 4 people | Lead + keys + back-left + back-right | The whole band shot is your group; sax stays fictional. |
| 5 people | Every seat | Nobody from the default band is left. |
Who plays the seats I leave empty?
Keys
Back-left
Back-right
SaxEvery seat you skip keeps one of these fictional AI musicians, so a one-photo video still has a full band. They are not the original performers from the NPR concert.
Only the lead is required. You can add friends to any mix of seats at no extra cost.
How much does it cost for 1–5 people?
| Cast | Photos | One video | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just you | 1 | $9.90 | 10 |
| You + 1 friend | 2 | $9.90 | 10 |
| You + 2 friends | 3 | $9.90 | 10 |
| You + 3 friends | 4 | $9.90 | 10 |
| Full band | 5 | $9.90 | 10 |
Pay per video, or buy a one-time credit pack; every video uses 10 credits, whatever the cast size. There is no subscription. See pricing for packs.
Nothing is charged twice for one video: if a render fails, everything reserved for it comes back to your account automatically.
How do I make it, step by step?
- Collect one photo per personSharp, front-facing, chest-up, one person per photo. Check the photo requirements.
- Add the leadOpen the Tiny Desk AI video generator and upload the lead photo.
- Add friends to seatsTap keys, sax, back-left or back-right and upload a photo for each friend you want in.
- Confirm permission and priceTick the box confirming every person agreed, and check the total.
- Press “Make my Tiny Desk video”Signing in or paying never starts a video by itself; you press the button once you are ready.
- Download in about 10–15 minutesWith sound and without sound. Videos stay private in your account for 30 days; photos are deleted after 24 hours.
Looking for a CapCut template for the band version? No template can recast the band; see template vs AI video.
Only cast people who said yes (kids only with their parent or guardian), no celebrities or public figures, and never use the video to mislead anyone or to advertise.
Questions people ask
Can I make a Tiny Desk AI video with friends?
Yes. The lead seat is required, and you can add a separate friend on keys, sax, back-left and back-right: up to five people in one video.
Does everyone appear in every shot?
No. The lead has the two close-ups, keys and the two backing singers appear in the band shots, and sax has the solo close-up. Nobody is in all five shots.
What happens to seats I leave empty?
They keep fictional AI musicians, so the band always looks full.
How much is a five-person Tiny Desk AI video?
$9.90 for all five seats, the same as just you, or 10 credits from a pack. A render that fails returns everything reserved for it.
How long does a five-person video take?
Usually about 10–15 minutes, whether you cast one person or five. The finished video is 19 seconds, 9:16, with the original song.
Do my friends need accounts?
No. You upload their photos, but each person must agree to be in the video. Kids are welcome when you are their parent or guardian.
More guides
- How to make an Outstanding Tiny Desk AI videoPick the lead and band, choose photos that work, then check and download the finished video.
- The Outstanding Tiny Desk meme, explainedWhere Charlie Wilson’s clip and The Gap Band’s song come from, and why the AI version spread.
- Outstanding Tiny Desk AI template: CapCut vs AI videoWhat a CapCut template can and cannot do, shot by shot, and how the band version is made.
- Tiny Desk AI photo requirementsWhich photos give a recognizable result for the lead and each band seat, and which ones to skip.
- Tiny Desk AI free previewWhat you can see free with no sign-up, what the full video adds, and how to try it.
- What is Tiny Desk AI?What the tool does, what you get, who it is for and what it will not do.
- Tiny Desk AI app or CapCut?There is no app to install. How to make the video in your phone browser.
- NFL fan Tiny Desk AIPut your tailgate crew or fantasy league in the band. No players or coaches.
- Tiny Desk AI generators comparedPrice, length, resolution, free preview and refunds of four sites, side by side.
- Tiny Desk AI video generatorUpload your photos and make the video.
Your turn.
Choose the lead, add up to four friends, and get a private 19-second video with the original song.
Tiny Desk AI is an independent parody tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by NPR, Tiny Desk, Charlie Wilson or The Gap Band. “Tiny Desk” is a trademark of NPR.