Skip to content
Tiny Desk AI
Create video

Guide

The Video Model Behind Tiny Desk AI

How Seedance uses one photo and one reference clip, what the model keeps consistent and what every Tiny Desk AI video generator render includes.

Make my Tiny Desk video 

One free preview per account: 5 seconds, silent. Full videos with sound start at $8.90.

Published October 28, 2026

Rendered with Seedance: a Tiny Desk AI video

Which model makes a Tiny Desk AI video?

Every render uses Seedance, a video model from ByteDance, through the API provider APIMart. The model receives the consented photo, the reference clip and the direction needed to place the person in the lead spot.

The free preview uses a lighter, faster Seedance model. Paid 480p and 720p full videos use the main Seedance model.

Why the model matters

A recognizable reference scene puts several demands on the model:

  • Keep the new lead connected to the source photo
  • Coordinate the lead, band, backing singers and horns
  • Follow the reference clip's order of events
  • Maintain the crowded office setting across the shot

How a Tiny Desk AI render works

Every render follows the same path:

  • The uploaded photo is resized and sent for an automated face and safety check
  • Seedance receives the photo and one reference clip of the meme moment
  • Your optional extra direction is screened and added to the render request
  • The completed MP4 appears under My videos in your account

What every render includes

Every paid render includes:

  • Seedance through APIMart
  • One 15-second sequence based on the reference clip
  • Sound from the meme moment
  • Your choice of 480p or 720p and 9:16 or 16:9
  • Automatic credit return if the render fails

Help the model with a good photo

Use one sharp, front-facing photo in even light with the full face visible. Sunglasses, filters, side profiles and group photos make the job harder and can cause refusal. Check the image with the on-device photo checker and read the photo guide.

Safety, privacy and variation

Every photo receives an automated face and content-safety check before rendering. Photos of minors, celebrities, athletes, coaches and other public figures are refused. Source photos are used only for the requested render, are not used to train models and are removed from temporary storage after processing. Every render differs a little, and artifacts, odd motion or likeness differences can still occur.

Tiny Desk AI model FAQ

Is there a free preview?

Yes. Every signed-in account gets one free preview: a 5-second silent 480p close-up made with a lighter, faster Seedance model. The full 15-second video uses the main Seedance model and includes the band, sax solo and sound for 10 credits in 480p or 20 credits in 720p.

Why does my video differ from the source photo?

AI video is probabilistic. Seedance follows the photo and reference, but each render varies and may include artifacts, odd motion or appearance changes.

Can I choose a different model?

No. Every render uses Seedance through APIMart.

Is my photo used to train the model?

No. The photo is used only for the requested render.

See Seedance at work

Upload one consented photo and make a 15-second Tiny Desk AI video.

Make my video See pricing
All guides and tutorials →