How to make an Outstanding Tiny Desk AI video

You will end up with the "Outstanding" Tiny Desk clip from the viral All-Loss video, about 18 seconds from the band shot on with the same cuts, with your coach, your quarterback or your friend singing lead. It comes as a 9:16 video with the song, plus a silent copy.

What you need

• One photo of the person who will sing lead: a coach, a teammate, a friend, or you.
• Optionally, photos of friends to play keys and sing backup (5 more credits together).
• Optionally, a photo of a friend to play the sax solo.
• A TinyDeskAI account (sign in with Google or email).
• Credits: $9.99 for one video, less per video in packs of 3 and 5 (pricing). One-time payment, no subscription.

Step 1: Pick the right photo

The photo matters more than anything else. What works best:

• One face, looking at the camera
• Sharp and well lit, no sunglasses
• Shoulders up works best
• Avoid group shots, cartoons and heavy filters

We cut a close-up of the face from your photo in your browser and send both to the video model: the close-up for the face, the photo for the clothes and build. Both are deleted from our storage within 2 days (privacy policy).

Step 2: Upload it as the lead singer

Open the Tiny Desk AI tool and tap the Lead singer frame. The lead sings the Charlie Wilson part from his NPR Tiny Desk concert: the big laughing close-up. Keys and the two backup singers share one extra: add one or all three for the same price. Any seat you leave empty is played by an AI musician.

To put a friend on keys, tap “Add a friend” on the Keys frame and pick their photo, with the same tips as the lead’s. They play the red keyboard in the band shot and the band again at the end, in the clothes from their photo. A friend on keys is 5 more credits, and the price on the button includes it before you pay.

The two Backup singer frames on the shelf below work the same way: their friends sing in the back row, left and right, in both band shots. Keys and the backup singers share one 5-credit extra, so one band friend or all three cost the same.

To put a friend on sax, tap “Add a friend” on the Sax frame and pick their photo, with the same tips as the lead’s. They play the sax solo close-up, in the clothes from their photo. Changed your mind? The × on the frame brings the AI musician back. It costs nothing extra.

Step 3: Make the video

Tick the box to confirm it is a parody, then press “Make my Tiny Desk video”. Sign in and get credits if you have not yet; your photo stays in the frame while you do. While the video renders you can close the tab: we email you when it is ready, and it waits in My videos.

Step 4: Download and post

On a phone, tap “Share or save to Photos” to put the video in your camera roll, then post it like any other clip. You also get a silent copy: if TikTok or Instagram mutes the song, post the silent copy and add “Outstanding” from the app's music library. See the examples for what comes out, and the FAQ for everything else.

Do you need an Outstanding Tiny Desk AI template?

No. Many TikTok tutorials point to a CapCut template. With TinyDeskAI there is nothing to edit: you upload a photo and download the finished clip with the song already synced. The template is built in: the cuts from the band shot on and the song are already in place, and only the faces change. See what's in the Outstanding Tiny Desk AI template.

Timing it

The Tiny Desk AI trend runs on college football Saturdays: a new set of losing coaches every week, as in the original All-Loss video. Making this week's version right after the games is the whole idea. Read more about where the Outstanding Tiny Desk meme comes from.

TinyDeskAI is an independent fan tool for parody videos. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to NPR, NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concerts, Charlie Wilson, The Gap Band, or any team, school or league. "Tiny Desk" is a trademark of NPR.