MCompare Free Download: Loudness-Matched Reference Comparison

If you're trying to match your mix or master to a commercial reference track without being fooled by volume differences, MCompare handles automatic loudness matching and multi-stage comparison in one window. It’s a free download that tackles a core problem in critical listening.

What It Does MCompare lets you A/B your audio against multiple sources with one click. The central function is crossfading between your track and reference tracks with a single button press. It automatically matches the loudness between your track and any reference, which helps you avoid making EQ or compression decisions based purely on volume. You can also compare your final master to the dry mix, to different stages in your processing chain, and to different versions of your mastering chain—all within a single plugin instance. Latency compensation keeps everything in sync. Key Features in Practice Automatic Loudness Matching This turns off the volume knob as a variable. When you switch to a reference track, the plugin adjusts its level to match your track's perceived loudness, so you’re comparing tone and balance, not just which one is louder. Multi-Stage and Multi-Version Comparison You aren’t limited to just one reference. Load your dry mix, a processed version, and a final master, then flip between them instantly. You can also compare entirely different mastering chain versions. This is useful for deciding between two limiter settings or final tweaks. Customizable Interface The GUI is resizable to fit your screen, and you can style its appearance. Graphics are GPU-accelerated for smooth performance. You get a choice between knobs, sliders, or buttons for controls, and the metering system is customizable. You can use classic meters or time graphs to visualize differences. Who Should Grab This This fits mixing engineers who constantly check their work against commercial tracks and need to bypass the "louder sounds better" bias. It’s equally useful for mastering engineers comparing a client’s track to a reference, or needing to quickly audition how a song sounds at different stages of their processing chain—like before and after the final limiter—without loading multiple plugins. Final Verdict Get this if you need a dedicated tool for loudness-matched reference comparisons and internal chain A/B testing. It consolidates what often requires multiple plugin instances or tedious manual level matching into one place. Since it’s a free download, the value is clear for the specific problems it solves. Just know it’s a utility for critical comparison; it doesn’t process audio itself. If your workflow involves constant referencing and version checking, this will speed up that work.