Many of projects I've done on it have received high praise from mastering engineers and clients. When it comes to effects, Rob has plenty of software and hardware choices at hand. I'm loving these new Electrix boxes. They are literally changing the way I approach writing, tracking, and mixing. Super-easy to use.
Organization is the key.
It drives me crazy when I go to other studios that have great gear, but they skimped on the wiring or patchbays. As an assistant in New York, I watched a lot of different session players come in, and I always checked out how their rigs were wired. When it came to wiring my rig, I took the best of their ideas and fused them together. Everything comes up in the patchbay, and I use Mogami and some Monster cable for everything. It's not cheap to get good cable, but productivity soars when there are no technical problems.