Hi, there are many other ethnic samples (standalone or otherwise) better than MOTU. It depends on what kind of ethnic music you are inclined towards.
1. Ethno World Complete (I have the Giga version, but is also comes with the standalone Kompakt version) - OK as an all rounder although I would prefer a little more articulations in some instruments. But generally OK.
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http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=BS-392
2. Orient World. This is not multisamples but loops and phrases (unfortunately) - comes as the build-in Intakt. Geared towards Middle-Eastern instruments -
http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=BS-390
3. QL RA - one of the best and most extensive ethnic instrument library (Kompakt). The price reflects the extent of the instruments included. -
http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=EW-163
4. Chineekong. One of the best, if not the best, chinese instrument VSTi. I've emailed them - very good tech support. They wrote to me and boasted that their chinese instruments are far better (in terms of articulations) than the famous RA. They recently came up with the new Pipa sample. They already have the Di, Xiao, Erhu, Guzheng and various percussions.
http://www.chineekong.com/vstmain.htm
East West is having a summer sale now. So is Chineekong (10% if you get 2 instruments). RA is now on a group buy offer - now already lowest at 50% off!!!!! The offer ends tomorrow (5th July) - so you must hurry if you want it -
http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=EW-163G.
If you are using Kontakt or Giga, you have lots more samples like Celtic, Native American, Indian, African etc. But since you asked for standalone, these are probably the best ones.
