The EastWest Quantum Leap RA is a legendary 14 GB world and ethnic instrument library. While modern versions are officially powered by the EastWest OPUS engine , legacy versions—often referred to in "repack" contexts—were originally released for Native Instruments' Kompakt player, a licensed version of the Kontakt engine . Overview of EastWest Quantum Leap RA
RA (named after the Egyptian sun god) was produced by Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix to preserve rare and ancient instruments in pristine detail. It provides a comprehensive collection of sounds from across six major regions: Africa, Europe, Middle East/Turkish Empire, India, Far East, and the Americas/Australia.
The library is prized for its high-caliber recording quality, featuring a phase-aligned eight-microphone setup (including Neumann and AKG mics) to capture a three-dimensional image of every sound. Key Instruments and Articulations
RA is organized by continent, offering a mix of solo instruments and grand ensembles: EastWest RA Walkthrough
EastWest Quantum Leap RA is a definitive 14 GB collection of rare and unique world instruments, meticulously sampled from Africa, Europe, India, the Americas, Australia, the Far East, and the Middle East. Originally developed for the Kontakt/Kompakt engine, modern versions now run within the EastWest OPUS
players, though many users still seek legacy "repack" versions for their specific compatibility with Native Instruments Kontakt Sweetwater Core Technical Features Massive Sound Palette
: Features 74 ethnic instruments, including solo performances and full ensembles like African drums and Gamelan. High-Fidelity Recording : Captured with a phase-accurate 8-microphone setup
(Neumann U67, M50, AKG C12) at Ocean Way Studios to provide a broad, 3D sonic image. Intelligent Performance : Includes built-in scripts for portamento repetition , allowing for realistic transitions between notes. Authentic Micro-tuning
: Offers specialized presets for regional scales, such as Indian or Egyptian tunings, to ensure cultural accuracy. Built-in Effects : Modern versions include the SSL FX Suite east west quantum leap ra repack kontakt library
and convolution reverb with hundreds of impulse responses from famous concert halls. EastWest Sounds Global Instrument Catalog
The library is organized by region, offering a wide array of melodic and percussive textures: Sound On Sound Featured Instruments Kora, Kalimbas, Djembe Ensemble, Ewe Drums, Talking Drum Americas/Aus
Dobro, Banjo, Didjeridoo, Pan Flute, First Nations Cedar Flute
Hurdy Gurdy, Uilleann Pipes, Hardanger Fiddle, Gadulka, Bagpipes
Erhu, Koto, Shakuhachi, Taiko Drums, Shamisen, Gamelan Ensemble Sitar, Sarangi, Tablas, Bansuri, Esraj, Tambura Middle East Armenian Duduk, Oud, Santoor, Ney Flute, Turkish Fiddle Purchasing Options
While older "repack" versions are often found through third-party or legacy community sources, official digital versions are currently available: EastWest Quantum Leap RA : Typically available for Guitar Center Musician's Friend B&H Photo Video : Often offers significant discounts, sometimes as low as Thomann Music : Lists the download version for approximately System Requirements : Requires an iLok account
for authorization. Recommended hardware includes an octa-core CPU, 32GB RAM, and an SSD for optimal sample streaming. EastWest Sounds installing
The story of the EastWest Quantum Leap RA library is a tale of evolution that mirrors the broader history of virtual instruments—shifting from early CD-ROM formats to its current state as a massive, high-definition world instrument collection. The Origins: From "Rare Instruments" to RA The journey began with a predecessor called Rare Instruments , released in 2001 by Quantum Leap The EastWest Quantum Leap RA is a legendary
on three CD-ROMs for Akai and GigaStudio formats. While Rare Instruments laid the foundation, it only makes up about 10% of the current RA library. Sound On Sound
In 2005, producers Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix expanded this vision into
(named after the Egyptian sun god), recording 14GB of new material at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood. The library was organized by six major global regions: Sound On Sound Featuring the Kora, Kalimbas, and various drum ensembles. Americas & Australia:
Including the Didjeridoo, Banjo, and a rare 1890 Washburn Guitar.
Highlighting the Hardanger Fiddle, Hurdy-Gurdy, and Uilleann Pipes. Showcasing the Erhu, Koto, and Shakuhachi. Containing the Sitar, Sarangi, and Bansuri. Middle East & Turkish Empire:
Famous for its Armenian Duduk and Middle Eastern String Section. Sound On Sound The "Kontakt" Era and the "Repack" Myth Technically, RA was never a native Native Instruments Kontakt library in the way modern libraries are. The Kompakt Phase:
When RA first launched in 2005, it used a custom "Kompakt" player, which was a streamlined version of Kontakt 1.5. This allowed the library to function as a standalone plug-in within DAWs. The Transition to PLAY:
Around 2008, EastWest moved away from Native Instruments technology to launch its own proprietary engine, . RA was eventually migrated to this engine. Legacy Issues: you get RA
Because older projects were tied to the NI-based player, some users found it difficult to open legacy sessions on newer systems (like M1 Macs), leading to community discussions about re-registering serial numbers in Native Access to see these "legacy" versions. Sound On Sound The Modern Incarnation: OPUS
Today, the library has moved beyond its older engines and is fully integrated into the EastWest OPUS Engine East West / Quantum Leap Ra - Sound On Sound
It is imperative to note that downloading a "Repack" constitutes software piracy. While EastWest has moved to a subscription model (ComposerCloud), offering the latest versions of their software, the legacy
For a composer on a budget, the RA Repack offers an unparalleled value: a 15GB library of world instruments that covers 90% of general scoring needs. It is a "workhorse" library.
East West now offers RA (original PLAY version) as part of ComposerCloud+. For $20/month, you get RA, Silk, Stormdrum, and Hollywood Orchestra. You still have to use PLAY, but the current PLAY 6 is far more stable than the old version.
PLAY was a resource hog. Kontakt handles DFD (Direct from Disk) streaming much more efficiently. Users report using 3x more instances of RA in Kontakt than in PLAY.
As of 2025, East West has shown no interest in porting RA to Kontakt. Their business model relies on the PLAY platform and ComposerCloud subscriptions. However, the company has recently acknowledged the demand by improving PLAY’s performance.
That said, a competitor might fill the gap. Orchestral Tools’ "Phoenix" and Heavyocity’s "Vocalise 2" have set new standards for world instruments, but neither matches RA’s pure ethnographic authenticity.
Until an official Kontakt version arrives, the "East West Quantum Leap RA Repack Kontakt Library" will remain a mythic, shadowy grail for producers who value workflow over legality.
Disclaimer: This repack is intended for owners of the original RA library who wish to migrate to a Kontakt-native format. It does not include the original East West installer, manuals, or protected content. All samples remain the property of East West Sounds.