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I'm using a variation of the Spec 4.0_AutoV2 along with the Yamaha Final Master VST (don't fully understand the VST settings yet) in between Meters & Triggers (currently on bypass) and my speakers and audio file recorder.

My Question - If/when I want to use Meters & Triggers should the VST be placed before the M&T to be able to use the midi file recorder after the VST processes the audio or does the correct use of the VST make the midi file recorder redundant?

Thanks

I would place something like YFM before M&T. another idea would be to place YFM before M&T, bypass the limiter function and, like Fan51 said, add a limiter after M&T in order to handle transients.

I will say this, though: I used to make extensive use of mastering VSTs like YFM, Izotope Ozone4, and BBE Sonic Maximizer in order to compensate for both a less than ideal source and the extraction process that takes place with converting. While the effect those VSTs has can sometimes lead to a more powerful result on your average HT system, on a very high-end system, you will hear every little bit of compression you add. In the past few months, I've dropped the mastering VSTs almost altogether (except for when, for example, I really do need some extra de-essing) in favor of utilizing the best source possible from the very beginning. Lots of 24-bit sources, vinyl rips, etc. My results are much more natural-sounding.

This is also where I recommend careful live-monitoring. You don't want to set all those humidity sliders at 1.0 and just run with it. You want to set them where you have just enough separation to give good results, but not so much where you're negatively affecting the overall sound quality by tearing your source apart too much.

That being said, what I liked about YFM as a mastering tool (as far as I know, YFM is also no longer commercially available. sorry, folks!) is that your setting are all right there, in front of you, and not hidden in the way they are with Ozone. Even if you really bring in the compression ratios, YFM is going to color your overall sound, though, which is something you may, or may not, want.

was discussed hundreds times before and people still don't understand...

the best idea is measure the output of YFM(and seamless) to see how much it can damage the sound...if you don't measure, you'll never know how much problems you can get!
just use one RMS Buddy right after the YFM output to measure
...and be scared!
if you decrease the input gain before YFM to don't get clips/distortions, YMF will do not as the input will be so low...
limiters after YFM only will 'limit' what was clipped.
is a remedy, not a solution!

Thanks for all the feedback. The bass management system in my vehicle doesn’t have much of an effect on my Plogued tunes and my goal was to be able to enable the LFE signal and increase its signal strength within Spec 4.0 with minimum distortion. I wasn’t able to do that and even with limiters the additional bass was very distracting.