Matt Workman, the creative powerhouse behind Cine Tracer, has something up his sleeve. Drummer XR is the name of Workman’s new tech project, and it’s already garnering tons of buzz. The concept blends crisp drumming, green screen work, and Workman’s 3D world-building chops.
At the heart of Drummer XR is the creator’s in-the-pocket playing on a Roland VAD503 kit. One attention-getting clip features Workman in a Minecraft setting using swords for sticks. Indeed, Drummer XR seems poised for the same kind of influence as the Cine Tracer. We spoke with Workman about his growing mixed-reality media empire.
Boston to NYC and Back
Tell us how you got started in film and music.
For ten years, I was a cinematographer in New York doing hip-hop and metal videos. Before that, I considered being a drummer. I grew up in Boston, went to Berklee College of Music camps for jazz, but never made that jump. I wanted to pursue music, but also to put filmmaking and computer science together.
Then I took a turn and started designing software for filmmakers. Now I make a product called Cine Tracer, which is a whole other persona. People know me for that at this point.
Cine Tracer and the DIY Approach
Are you the owner of Cine Tracer?
I’m the sole developer. Cine Tracer is a gamified way of learning cinematography used in many educational applications. It’s become a big business so I’ve been expanding into music.
You seem very DIY. Do you code everything yourself?
On previous products, I worked with lower-level developers. Now, I use Unreal Engine, which makes things pretty easy. I also work with Epic games. I’m still active in the film industry, but it’s slow at the moment. I created my current setup to make YouTube videos quickly. Now it’s permanent.
Are you based in Boston now?
Yeah, Boston.
Were you always a gamer?
I always wanted to get into gaming, so this new project brings it all together—gaming, filmmaking, and music. Drummer XR is only a month or so old. I was able to get the custom URL on YouTube very recently.
Mining the Craft
The clip of you using Roland V-Drums in Minecraft is generating a lot of excitement. How did you choose the kit and environment?
I’ve played drums a lot and did it forever. In high school, I had an acoustic kit, but I’ve wanted a TD-50 for a long time. I remember seeing earlier versions at Guitar Center twenty years ago.
"Using the drum set to play video games, writing those plug-ins—I knew I could do that."
When I saw the new V-Drums announced, I knew it was the right time. I’d just gotten a grant from Epic Games to keep doing mixed-reality virtual production. Before the shutdown, I was going to make short films—get actors and do narrative work.
Then everything stopped. I thought, “I can’t hire actors. What am I going to film?” I decided I should do drum covers and use the kit as an input. Using the set to play video games, writing those plug-ins—I knew I could do that.
It’s cool to see the kit in a completely new context.
Most people don’t know they’re electronic. They look at them and ask, “How are you triggering those?” When I’m filming, I don’t want people to second guess that aspect.
You play very well.
Thanks. I practice. I’m getting it back. It’s been fifteen years. As a drummer, I wanted to play again.
Are you a part of the Minecraft community?
I’ve played it, but I’m not known. I thought it would be cool to create music in Minecraft. One of the more famous YouTubers is Mumbo Jumbo. We’re friends because he’s a filmmaker, so we talk on that level. My son watches all the Mumbo Jumbo YouTube videos.
3D Moves and More
It seems like a good fit to see someone in a Minecraft environment playing a full kit.
It’s only the beginning. Now that the camera moves, it’s a 3D set. When you hit the drums, relevant things will happen in the world. The scene will jump to something else. It could turn into nighttime, and ghosts will come out.
"It's only the beginning. Now that the camera moves, it's a 3D set. When you hit the drums, relevant things will happen in the world."
Maybe people will be able to use those effects in performance.
They’re MIDI, but I’ll also integrate OSC (Open Sound Control) which is more complicated. With the OSC devices that we use in the film industry, you can grab an iPad and touch a control. They have virtual sliders. Any media input will work as a trigger. You can grab samples or loops, then trigger the background.
Kits and Covers
There must be a method for choosing your drum covers. Is there anything on the docket?
They’re random at the moment. I’ve been trying to catch up with copyright law since there can be issues with labels. YouTube is pretty clean right now, so you can do any major cover. I check out other drummer influencers to see what songs they’re choosing. Also, I watch TikTok because that’s the network to penetrate.
"When I'm on the ride, I hit the side of it. I need to keep filling space. It sounds like the rivets on
jazz cymbals."
Is there a particular onboard kit that you use?
The setting is called “Tight Funk.” I like the default ride, and I created my crash. The whole kit sounds really good. It’s very crisp and in your face.
Are there any tricks to doing drum covers?
I don’t play drum covers like the drummer in a band. I rimshot hard and loud because I need to cut through. A regular snare hit dies if you mix it normally.
And my cymbals are all edge. When I’m on the ride, I don’t hit the top. I hit the side of it because I need it to keep filling the space. It almost sounds like the rivets you put into jazz cymbals. If it dies off too fast, it sounds like a sample.
Looking Ahead
What is the next step for Drummer XR?
I still haven’t fully executed a video with multiple scenes and camera angles. You can compare it to building the framework for a game. The next step is to take a three-minute song, something on the Top 100, and create a scene that’s appropriate for it.
For the chorus or intro, it will be one set. Then, I’ll hit the trigger, and we’ll be in another scene for the first verse. The scenes will keep changing and have different camera moves.
With this new audio-visual language, do you consider who your audience will be?
It’s hard to say. Do you make drum covers for other drummers, which is what most people do, or make drum covers for normal people? I go for normal people. That’s why my penguin video blew up across multiple verticals. If I do cats, it’ll be all over. It just needs to be the right cat song at the right time.
Amassing Accolades
Looking at your Instagram, you have all kinds of accolades and articles in trade magazines.
Those stories center around my work with Unreal Engine and Epic Games. When you create content with those companies, it gets picked up.
They shot the first season of The Mandalorian with Unreal Engine. That brought the platform into the mainstream. Plus, there’s the announcement of the new Unreal Engine. A lot of the PS-5 games coming out will be on it.
It must be an exciting time to be a part of the Unreal Engine team.
The company is growing at a fast rate, but it was small for quite a while. Given its size, Unreal’s power and market share are insane compared to competitors. They license the game engine that does everything great on all the TV shows and video games.
"I love the interaction with other people.
That factor is the key to putting together teams to execute ideas."
The New Normal
Have things changed during the Corona-era in terms of your work?
For my core business, no. I’ve been working out of my house and upgrading for the last five years. Last year, I did conferences, talks, and public speaking engagements. But this year, I planned on traveling twice a month. I was going to be everywhere but at my house. Now it’s the opposite.
As an online content creator, it’s interesting you had such a heavy travel schedule.
It’s mostly for networking. You lose engagement and some revenue by not doing direct online content marketing. But the networking I get from those events is irreplaceable. I love the interaction with other people. That factor is the key to putting together teams to execute ideas.
