480p vs 720p Tiny Desk AI: Formats and Credit Costs

Both choices make the full video

480p and 720p use the same five-photo, four-scene workflow. Both deliver approximately 17.6 seconds of vertical MP4 with the reference soundtrack. Choosing 480p does not buy only a preview, and choosing 720p does not add an extra scene or a longer performance.

The distinction is output resolution and credit cost. The 480p pipeline exports at 496 × 864 pixels and uses 10 credits per complete task. The 720p pipeline exports at 720 × 1280 pixels and uses 20 credits. The lower-resolution file uses the pipeline's encoded vertical dimensions; the player may fit that frame inside a 9:16 presentation area.

What those pixels mean

A 720 × 1280 file contains more output pixels than a 496 × 864 file. This gives a larger frame to work with when viewing or editing. It does not establish that every detail is more accurate. Soft input photos, compression and the generator's own decisions still affect what those pixels contain.

The model, the cast requirements and the reference sequence remain the same. There is no different high-accuracy face or lip-sync model hidden behind the HD selection. If a face is assigned incorrectly or an outfit changes, extra output pixels do not by themselves fix that mistake.

This is a specification guide, not a controlled visual-quality benchmark. We do not claim a measured improvement in likeness or mouth timing between the two tiers. Review actual examples and your own finished file rather than interpreting the HD label as a quality guarantee.

How to choose a credit budget

If you want the lower-cost complete render, 480p uses half as many credits per task. If you specifically need a 720 × 1280 output file for your workflow, choose 720p and check that your balance has at least 20 credits.

A 30-credit pack can cover one 720p task and one 480p task, or three 480p tasks. A 100-credit pack covers five 720p tasks or ten 480p tasks. See the current pricing table before purchasing.

Changing the quality selector applies to a new generation. It does not turn a previously completed 480p task into a 720p task at no cost. Downloading an old result again also does not regenerate it.

Review before posting

Inspect the full group shots, the lead close-up and the saxophone shot. Check hair, faces, outfits, hands and timing. Then look at the file in your intended editing or posting workflow, because another platform can resize or re-encode an upload.

Keep the original downloaded MP4 if you plan to edit it later. Avoid judging the result only through a small muted autoplay preview: that view does not show how the full soundtrack and mouth movements line up. Read the quality limits and start with well-prepared photos.