A compressor in ''stereo linking'' mode applies the same amount of gain reduction to both the left and right channels. This is done to prevent image shifting that can occur if each channel is compressed individually.<ref>{{Cite Thisbook becomes|chapter-url=http://media.uaudio.com/support/manuals/v9100-vp4lQz6/UAD%20Plug-Ins%20Manual.pdf particularly|title=UAD noticeablePlug-Ins whenManual a|publisher=Universal loudAudio element|edition=190724 that|pages=219–220 is|chapter=Fairchild pannedTube closeLimiter to either edge of the stereo field raises the level of the program to the compressor's threshold, causing its image to shift toward the center of the stereo field.Collection}}</ref>
Stereo linking can be achieved in two ways: a)the compressor uses the sum of the left and right inputs to produce a single measurement that drives the compressor or b)the compressor calculates the required amount of gain reduction independently for each channel and then applies the highest amount of gain reduction to both. In the latter case, it could still make sense to dial different settings on left and right channels as one might wish to have less compression for opposite-side events<ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=http://media.uaudio.com/support/manuals/v9100-vp4lQz6/UAD%20Plug-Ins%20Manual.pdf |title=UAD Plug-Ins Manual |publisher=Universal Audio |edition=190724 |pages=219–220 |chapter=Fairchild Tube Limiter Collection}}</ref>).
