Tiny Desk AI Troubleshooting: Photos, Faces, Roles and Audio
By Tiny Desk AI Editorial Team · Published: · Last updated:
If a Tiny Desk AI video is not working as expected, identify the failure before spending credits on another attempt. Upload errors, a wrong role, an unclear face, a failed render and a muted social-media post are different problems. The checklist below helps separate them; its suggested fixes are diagnostic steps, not guaranteed remedies. For a first-time setup, start with the Tiny Desk AI tutorial. For an existing attempt, keep its job reference and the original download while you investigate.
Start with the symptom
| Symptom | First check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Photo will not upload | File format, size and visible face | Try a supported file with one clear person |
| Wrong person in a role | Slot label and uploaded preview | Correct the assignment before generating again |
| Lead looks unclear | Input portrait and motion frames | Test a cleaner, less obstructed portrait |
| A face changes at a cut | Which shot breaks consistency | Record the time and isolate the affected role |
| Render says failed | Job status and credit history | Contact support before duplicate attempts |
| Local file has no sound | Player mute state and exported audio | Compare another player and the web preview |
| Only a social post is muted | Platform notice and audio permissions | Follow the platform's stated resolution path |
Do not treat a missing browser preview as proof that the exported file is broken. Likewise, a download that plays locally can still face separate platform or music restrictions when posted.
When the photo is rejected
The current upload form accepts JPG, PNG and WebP files up to 10 MB each. If a phone saved the portrait in another format, export a supported copy rather than merely renaming the extension.
Then inspect the image itself. A front-facing portrait with an unobstructed face is a better diagnostic input than a group photo, a distant full-body image or a strongly filtered selfie. Use an adult who has agreed to the synthetic performance and complies with the product's upload rules.
Keep the original photo untouched. When testing a crop or conversion, save a separate copy so you can tell which input produced which result.
When the cast is wrong
Read the labels on the actual form. On tinydeskai.online they are lead singer, keyboardist, backup vocalist 1, backup vocalist 2 and saxophonist. A photo number from another generator is not a reliable mapping.
The supporting positions are optional. If you left one blank, the form says a band member fills that role; that is different from failing to use a portrait you uploaded.
Before resubmitting, compare the preview and role label for every uploaded photo. If the inputs were correct but the output placed someone incorrectly, save the job reference and the affected timestamp for support.
When the face is inconsistent
Inspect the output at normal speed and pause at the problem. Does the identity fail in all shots, only in profile, or only after a camera cut? That distinction helps describe the issue without assuming the model's internal cause.
For a controlled retry, change one input at a time. Use a sharper portrait, remove an obstructed crop or simplify an unnecessary group cast. These are tests, not assurances that identity will be exact.
A higher export resolution is not, by itself, evidence of better identity matching. Do not buy another attempt solely on that assumption. If the product exposes no relevant controls, do not follow another site's instructions to change settings that are not available.
When the render fails or takes longer
Check the job status, credit ledger and any visible error message. A waiting job and a failed job should not be handled as the same event.
Keep a short support note with the job reference, approximate submission time and time zone, browser, device and the error text. Describe the role involved without publicly posting the person's photo.
Use the support contact page for a job-specific answer. This article does not establish a render-time guarantee or replace the current refund policy.
When sound is missing
First separate local playback from posting. Download the file, turn up the device and player volume, and try another player. Compare that result with the web preview.
If sound exists locally but disappears after upload, inspect the social platform's notice. Do not automatically blame the AI render, and do not assume replacing the music with another copyrighted upload is an acceptable fix.
For promotional TikTok posts, consult TikTok's commercial-music guidance. General music availability does not establish clearance for every commercial use. The posting guide covers the final checks.
Before you retry
Confirm what changed, why it might address the symptom and what the next attempt will cost. Do not repeatedly submit the same inputs without a specific test in mind.
If you are starting again, open Tiny Desk AI and verify the lead portrait, optional roles and current transaction details before generating.
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