I've been using Reason for synths, loops, and MIDI stuff for literally decades. The software has changed a lot since then, but now I still find it supremely helpful for finding and creating new instruments.

It comes preloaded with tons of samples, patches, effects, and synths, which I access as a VST now through my DAW. It can also be used as a standalone DAW too, but I still prefer Ableton as an overall mixing/recording environment.

Melodyne is the more graceful version of "AutoTune." It allows you to delicately change vocal performances after they're recorded and fix any sour notes. The full suite is pricy, but allows for pretty neat tricks like editing individual notes within a chord.

The cheaper versions are still super useful too -- I use it all the time to clean up harmony parts, and make myself sound listenable when singing demo vocals. It's also great to edit guitar parts for timing instead of relying on quantization.

Overall it's a time saver, and if you're producing singers professionally, learning it is a must in my opinion!

I never thought I could sound good playing the blues, and then I bought a Fender Strat. It has a classic sound that is hard to replicate, and is very versatile across different genres. It's one of the few guitars I consider a "must have" if you're doing a lot of recording.

GetGood Drums is a VST I use to program MIDI drums instead of always recording real drums. The samples and presets are the best I've found yet, and the dynamic responses keep things from sounding robotic.

It runs through Kontakt player, which isn't my favorite plugin, but the quality of the sounds coming out of GetGood is worth the trouble for me.