How to make an Outstanding Tiny Desk AI video

Make an Outstanding Tiny Desk AI video from your own photos and the 15-second reference clip shown here. This studio uses the original performance as its fixed reference: the desk, instruments, performer positions, gestures, laugh and camera cuts guide the character edit. The original soundtrack is copied back onto the finished video.

Reference clip: @theburnerfromhe11, as featured on outstandingtinydesk.com.

1. Cast the five band roles

Choose One group photo to cast people from left to right: the laughing close-up performer, lead singer, sax player, left backing singer and right backing singer. A clear photo with up to five consenting adults works best.

Choose A photo each to assign portraits individually. The first photo gets the laughing close-up; the other four roles are optional. Leave a role empty to keep that performer from the reference video. Clear, well-lit faces without sunglasses or heavy filters give the model a useful identity reference.

2. Keep the reference performance

There is no new-scene or music-style selector. The original clip is uploaded to the generation service along with your selected photos. MiniMax H3 receives instructions to replace only the assigned people and preserve the original performance, motion and shot order. This is a generative video edit, so perfect face identity, gestures and exact pixel matching are not guaranteed.

3. Generate your Outstanding Tiny Desk video

Sign in and confirm you have permission to use the photos. Each take reserves 1 video credit. One-time packs start at US$6.90; each pack is valid for 365 days. Your finished video is 15 seconds, 720p and 9:16. The studio saves your task so you can check Recent takes after returning or refreshing.

4. Keep the original sound

The model’s generated audio is discarded. After the character edit finishes, the server copies the selected reference clip’s original audio track into your output without re-encoding it. Your video is only marked ready after this finishing step succeeds.

5. Save and share with context

Play the finished video and use Open / save MP4 to keep a copy. Downloads are available only to the signed-in owner. Label the result AI-edited when sharing: the people in your photos did not actually perform in the source clip. This studio is independent and not affiliated with the original performers, NPR or the Tiny Desk series.