There is one other contraption that is useful - DEQ2496 - makes for a really useful RTA/Metering box
Actually it does all sorts of other stuff, but other than its meters, its main role for me is protecting my speakers and ears from TI death screaches
I have actually mastered stuff on it in the past - suprisingly I thought it was better than many plugins I have used (caveat is that I have found most plugins to be crap).