Matching Compressor a feedforward multi-knee compressor (up to three knees) that allows you to match the dynamic characteristics of one audio signal to another.
If you have a reference audio signal with your desired dynamic profile and another signal you want to shape similarly, the plugin can analyze both and determine compressor/expander parameters that best match the reference.
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Standard set of parameters: Gain, Threshold, Ratio, Knee Width, Attack, Release, along with Envelope Type and Stereo Processing mode
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Support for ratios below 1:1, producing upward expansion above the threshold (downward expansion is not provided)
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Up to three compressor/expander knees
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Automatic matching of dynamic parameters
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Fixation mode that keeps the level distribution unchanged when attack and release are retuned
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Support for both audio files and input buses (main and sidechain) as sources for reference and destination audio
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Graphical representation of the processing curve
There is a number of plugins (from the old kind DirectX Steinberg FreeFilter to the modern Fab Filter Pro-Q, Voxengo CurveEQ, iZotope Ozone etc.) that allow to make spectral snapshots of two different audio fragments and determine the EQ parameters that match the first one to the second. The idea of Matching Compressor however is to make the similar thing with a dynamic range instead of spectrum.
First of all, you can use Matching Compressor as a simple compressor with standard Threshold, Ratio, Knee Width, Gain, Attack and Release parameters. Besides, you can choose its envelope filter type (peak or RMS) and the way the plugin processes stereo signal (it can process channels separately, choose maximum absolute value or calculate mean value).
But the two main features of this plugin are the ability to tune attack/release while keeping the level distribution unchanged and determining the best compressing/expanding parameters that make dynamic characteristics of one audio to be closest to another. To do this, the plugin analyzes volume level statistics of the processed and reference audios.
Sources of audios can be either sound files or input buses. If you want to use an input bus you can just play a fragment in your DAW to make the plugin learn it's audio characteristics: the main bus is used for the destination audio (i.e. audio that should be processed) and the side chain is used for the reference audio.
If a more accurate dynamic curve is needed to be determined then the two- or three-compressors/expanders mode can be used (i.e. the plugin can process a signal with one, two or three compressor/expander knees).
The User Guide can be found at: https://github.com/justonem0reuser/MatchingCompressor/blob/master/Docs/User%20Guide.pdf
The Algorithm Description can be found at: https://github.com/justonem0reuser/MatchingCompressor/blob/master/Docs/methods.pdf
With its creepy design and unclear use cases, Matching Compressor is the flagman of The Useless Tools line that you would never want to have onboard.
Have fun!