Download/install the repack if:
Avoid the repack if:
Final word: The East West Quantum Leap RA Repack Kontakt Library is a testament to the dedication of the sample community. It keeps a masterpiece alive against corporate abandonment. But as with any repack, respect the original creators. If you make money using these sounds, eventually invest in the official Opus version. Your inner composer—and the developers who recorded those Erhu glissandos—will thank you.
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The "East West Quantum Leap Ra Repack Kontakt Library" represents a fascinating chapter in the evolution of virtual instruments, marking a transition point between the era of physical sample CDs and modern standalone software engines. The Origin: "Rare Instruments" The story begins with an earlier 2001 library called Rare Instruments
, which was originally released on CD-ROMs in Akai and Gigastudio formats. While highly acclaimed, it was limited by the technology of the time. When producers Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix decided to expand it, they recorded 90% new content at the famous Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood to create Sound On Sound The Engine Shift: From Kontakt to PLAY
The "Kontakt" or "Repack" part of the name refers to a specific technical period in the mid-2000s: The NI Partnership:
Originally, many EastWest libraries were released using Native Instruments' engines like (a streamlined version of Kontakt). The Repack Necessity: As EastWest eventually moved toward their own proprietary PLAY engine
around 2007–2008, the older Kontakt-compatible versions became rare "legacy" items. The Legacy: east west quantum leap ra repack kontakt library
Community "repacks" often sought to keep these older versions alive for users who preferred the Kontakt interface
or wanted to avoid the iLok security requirements that came with the newer PLAY engine versions. Vi-Control Library Highlights
The library remains a staple for film and TV composers due to its massive 14GB collection: Sound On Sound
The Ultimate Guide to EastWest Quantum Leap RA: The Definitive Ethnic Virtual Instrument
In the world of cinematic scoring and world music production, few libraries carry as much weight and history as EastWest Quantum Leap RA. Named after the ancient Egyptian Sun God, RA was designed to provide composers with a massive, "all-encompassing" collection of ethnic instruments from every corner of the globe.
While the library originally launched on its own proprietary engine, many modern producers seek out the RA Repack Kontakt Library version to integrate these legendary sounds into the industry-standard Native Instruments sampler. What is EastWest Quantum Leap RA?
EastWest RA is a massive world/ethno instrument suite produced by Nick Phoenix. Unlike libraries that focus on a single region, RA covers: Africa: From Kalimbas to Kora. Americas: Including Native American Flutes and Banjo.
Europe: Featuring Bagpipes, Hardanger Fiddle, and Hurdy Gurdy. Far East: Koto, Shamisen, and Shakuhachi.
Middle East & Turkish Empire: Iconic Duduk, Ney Flutes, and Saz. India: Sitar, Sarangi, and various percussion.
The goal of RA was to capture the "soul" of these instruments using high-end microphones and world-class performers, ensuring that the nuances of non-Western scales and articulations were preserved. Why Use the Kontakt Repack Version?
The original RA library was released for the PLAY engine (now EastWest Opus). However, many composers prefer the Kontakt Repack for several key reasons: 1. Unified Workflow
Most professional templates are built around Native Instruments Kontakt. Having RA as a Kontakt library allows you to keep all your instruments under one "roof," using Kontakt’s robust routing, scripting, and purging options. 2. Reduced Resource Consumption
The Kontakt engine is highly optimized for RAM and CPU usage. A well-made repack allows you to load these high-quality samples without the overhead of the original PLAY engine, which some users find heavy on older systems. 3. Deep Customization
Kontakt users love to "tweak." With the repack version, you have easier access to the back-end mapping, envelope controls, and internal Kontakt effects (like the Convolution Reverb), allowing you to modernize these classic samples. Key Features and Sound Quality
Even years after its initial release, RA remains a "desert island" library for many reasons:
Authentic Articulations: It isn't just about sustained notes. RA includes true legato-style transitions, grace notes, slides, and microtonal ornaments essential for Middle Eastern and Indian music.
The "Rare" Factor: Many of the instruments in RA—like the Ektar or the Dizi—are difficult to find in other generalist world libraries.
Cinematic Presets: Beyond the dry instruments, RA includes "evolved" patches that are pre-processed to sound instantly ready for a film score or a deep-house track. Technical Specifications Download/install the repack if:
If you are looking for the EastWest Quantum Leap RA Repack, here is what you can generally expect: Size: Approximately 14GB (compressed via NCW for Kontakt).
Compatibility: Usually requires Kontakt 5.8 or higher (Full Version).
Format: Optimized .nki files with custom wallpaper and scripting for ease of use. Final Thoughts: Is RA Still Relevant?
Despite the influx of newer, more specialized libraries, EastWest Quantum Leap RA is still considered a masterpiece. Its breadth of content is staggering. Whether you are scoring a documentary about the Silk Road or adding an exotic flair to a pop production, the RA Repack for Kontakt offers a timeless palette of sounds with the modern convenience of the Kontakt engine.
For those looking to expand their sonic horizons, RA isn't just a library; it's a global expedition in a single plugin.
EastWest Quantum Leap RA is a massive virtual instrument library dedicated to rare and ethnic instruments from around the globe, covering Africa, the Americas, Australia, Europe, India, the Far East, and the Middle East.
While the modern version of RA is powered by the EastWest Opus engine (formerly Play), the library's history is closely tied to Native Instruments. Key Features of RA
Global Scope: Features a vast collection of world instruments categorized by continent, including everything from African drums and bells to Middle Eastern winds and Far Eastern plucked instruments.
High Detail: Recorded with high-caliber microphones through an API console, capturing intricate details like phase-aligned microphone setups.
Expressive Control: Supports performance styles like legato, portamento, and round-robin for realistic phrasing.
Legacy Formats: Originally released using a custom version of Native Instruments' Kompakt player, which allowed it to be loaded into the full version of NI Kontakt. Kontakt Compatibility and Repacks
"Repacks" typically refer to third-party modified versions of the library, often intended to make older NI-powered versions compatible with modern Kontakt versions or to reduce the disk footprint. EastWest RA Walkthrough
EastWest Quantum Leap RA is a foundational world instrument library designed to provide authentic ethnic sounds for film, TV, and game scoring. While originally released in the mid-2000s, it remains a staple for composers seeking a "one-stop shop" for global instruments. Core Overview
Content: A 13–14GB collection spanning Africa, the Americas, Australia, Europe, the Far East, India, and the Middle East.
Recording Quality: Recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood using high-end microphones (Neumann, AKG, Schoeps) and an API console for a "first-class" 3D audio image. Engine Transition:
Legacy: Originally powered by NI Kompakt (a simplified version of Kontakt), making it compatible with Kontakt versions 1.5 and higher.
Current: Now primarily hosted in EastWest's proprietary OPUS engine (formerly PLAY), which offers enhanced 64-bit performance and advanced articulation controls.
"Repack" Context: In the community, "repack" often refers to unofficial versions converted specifically for modern Kontakt versions, as EastWest moved away from Native Instruments years ago. Key Instrument Highlights Avoid the repack if:
The library is organized by region, with a strong focus on melodic instruments over percussion:
Africa: Standouts include the harp-like Kora and the Kalimbas.
Americas/Australia: The Dobro is highly praised for its 15 different performance articulations, including various slide speeds.
Middle East: Features authentic, "reedy" Duduks from Armenia, Turkey, and Bulgaria, alongside a distinctive Persian Santoor.
Far East: Includes meticulously sampled Koto, Shamisen, and a "breathy" Shakuhachi flute. Pros & Cons EastWest RA Walkthrough
The East West Quantum Leap RA is a massive world instrument library featuring samples from six continents, including Africa, the Americas, Australia, Europe, the Far East, India, and the Middle East. Key Features of the RA Library
Vast Instrument Collection: Includes rare and ethnic instruments such as drums, percussion, wind, and plucked instruments.
Recording Quality: Recorded with an eight-microphone setup and phase-aligned via an API console for high-fidelity sound.
Engine Transition: While originally designed for the EastWest Play engine, a repacked version for Native Instruments Kontakt exists, allowing users to run it within the Kontakt sampler rather than the standalone Opus or Play engines. The "Repack" for Kontakt
The "repack" version of this library is a community-modified format typically found on sites like VSTHouse.
Size: The repacked version is approximately 8.82 GB, whereas the original full installation is around 14 GB.
Format: Provided as .nicnt and .nki files for compatibility with Kontakt 5.3 or higher.
Setup Note: Official EastWest libraries are no longer natively supported in modern versions like Kontakt 7 or 8 unless specifically bridged via NKS or using older license-registration methods. Instrument Categories by Region Region Featured Instrument Types Africa Bells, drums, pit percussion, plucked instruments, shakers Americas & Australia Percussion, wind, and various solo tribal instruments Far East & India Sitar, various flutes, and traditional percussion ensembles Europe Traditional folk instruments and historic woodwinds EastWest RA Walkthrough
The original RA installer places encrypted .EWI files. Using extraction tools (like EW Extract), one can obtain the raw 24-bit WAV files.
Each instrument (e.g., Erhu) requires:
Assuming you have legally acquired a repack (e.g., you own RA and are migrating it), follow this workflow:
Pro tip: On Apple Silicon Macs in Logic Pro, set Kontakt to “Rosetta 2” mode initially. Some repack scripting still relies on Intel-era code.
Because the repack is user-modified, it may exhibit bugs. Use these Kontakt tips:
Known issues: The repack’s Djembe multisample may have a reversed stereo image on the left channel. Fix by inserting a Stereo Imager in Kontakt’s output FX and swapping L/R.
| Feature | Original RA (PLAY/OPUS) | Repack (Kontakt) | |--------|------------------------|------------------| | Engine | East West PLAY / OPUS | Native Instruments Kontakt (Full version) | | Legality | Legal (purchased) | Piracy (illegal) | | Stability | High (official updates) | Variable – often buggy, missing articulations | | Scripting | Advanced (custom PLAY engine features) | Simplified (missing some original mic positions, round robin errors) | | Sampling Quality | Full 16/24-bit | May be downsampled or truncated | | Installation | One-click via East West Installation Center | Manual copying, batch resaving, occasional missing samples |