To answer the original post
"Does all this music stuff I own actually produce better music?"

Yes, or you are doing it wrong.

They are tools in the production of music. It was a simple question really that appears to have wandered sideways to me.
Try to produce a CD without these tools <grin>

/thought I'd inject a bit of 'MACism' into the fray


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!