Converting recordings with the Convert / Process wizard

The Convert / Process wizard converts recordings between formats without loading them into the file list. Use it to:

  • Convert binary .BIN files from the Explore device memory to .csv, .bdf, or a BIDS dataset.

  • Convert .xdf files recorded through LSL to a BIDS dataset.

  • Convert Explore .csv recordings to .bdf.

  • Convert a folder of recordings to EEGLAB datasets.

  • Merge recordings from two synchronized devices into one recording.

To open the wizard, navigate to:

File > Convert / Process…
The first page of the Convert / Process wizard with the input list on the left and recent runs and presets on the right.
The first page of the wizard, with recent runs and presets

How the wizard works

The wizard has five steps. A bar at the top shows the steps and the choices you have made so far.

  1. Input. Choose what you are starting with: .BIN, .xdf, .csv, or .bdf / .edf.

  2. Devices. Choose Single device or Multiple devices.

  3. Output. Choose what you want to produce. Outputs that are not possible from your input are greyed out, and the reason is shown next to them.

  4. Configure. Select the input files and output folder, and set any options for the conversion.

  5. Review. Check which files will be read, where the output will be written, and which files will be created. Then click Run conversion, or Run merge when merging.

Click Back at any time to change an earlier choice. If something is missing or invalid when you continue, the wizard tells you what to fix.

The Output step for CSV input from multiple devices. Unavailable outputs are greyed out with the reason.
Outputs that are not possible from the chosen input are greyed out

Available conversions

Input Output Notes

.BIN

.csv

Creates _ExG.csv, _ORN.csv, _Marker.csv, and _Meta.csv files for each recording.

.BIN

.bdf

Creates _ExG.bdf and _ORN.bdf files for each recording. Markers are written to the ExG file. On some setups, .edf is written instead of .bdf.

.BIN

BIDS dataset

Creates a BIDS dataset with one subject per device.

.xdf

BIDS dataset

Creates a BIDS dataset with one subject per Explore device in the file, in BDF or CSV format.

.csv

.bdf

Converts Explore _ExG.csv recordings to _ExG.bdf, markers included.

.csv or .bdf / .edf

EEGLAB .set

Converts every recording in a folder to an EEGLAB dataset.

Two .csv files, or one .xdf file

Merged recording

Combines two synchronized devices into one recording. Requires Multiple devices.

Converting from BIN

You can convert binary files from the Explore device internal memory, in .BIN format, to .csv, .bdf, or a BIDS dataset.

To convert .BIN files:

  1. Open the wizard and select .BIN.

  2. Select Single device to convert one file, or Multiple devices to convert several files at once.

  3. Select .csv, .bdf, or BIDS dataset.

  4. Click Browse .BIN… and select the file or files. With Multiple devices, select at least two files.

  5. Click Browse… next to Output folder and choose where the converted files are written.

  6. For a BIDS dataset, enter the BIDS labels. See BIDS labels.

  7. Optional: attach a Session Status file and choose processing options. See Using a Session Status file.

  8. Click Review, check the summary, and click Run conversion.

The output files are named after the .BIN file, with Explore_ added in front if the name does not already start with it.

When converting to .bdf, the data is written in BDF+ format using 24-bit resolution, as opposed to EDF or EDF+.

If you changed the device sampling rate or channel mask during the recording, a new ExG file is created at each change. The file name includes the time at which the setting changed.

The Configure step for converting two BIN files to CSV, with a Session Status file attached and two processing options selected.
Configuring a BIN to CSV conversion for two devices
The Review step listing the files to read, the output folder, the files to create, and the Session Status file.
The Review step before running the conversion

Converting from XDF to BIDS

If you recorded one or more Explore devices into a single .xdf file through LSL, you can convert it to a BIDS dataset.

To convert an .xdf file:

  1. Open the wizard and select .xdf.

  2. Select Single device or Multiple devices, depending on how many Explore devices are in the file.

  3. Select BIDS dataset.

  4. Click Browse… next to Input .xdf and select the file.

  5. Click Browse… next to BIDS root and choose the root folder of the dataset.

  6. Enter the BIDS labels and choose the Output format:

    • BDF writes a standard BIDS dataset under sub-/ses-/eeg/.

    • CSV writes per-device Explore .csv files and an events.tsv file under sub-/ses-/derivatives/csv/. This layout is not validated against the BIDS standard.

  7. Optional: attach a Session Status file and choose processing options. See Using a Session Status file.

  8. Click Review, then Run conversion.

A progress window shows a live log of the conversion. To stop, click Cancel. The recording that is being written is finished first and the remaining ones are skipped. If you close Explore Signals during a conversion, you are asked to confirm.

Datasets in either format can be loaded back into Explore Signals with File > Import BIDS.

The Configure step for converting an XDF file to BIDS, with task, session, output format, and the sync trim option.
Configuring an XDF to BIDS conversion

BIDS labels

When the output is a BIDS dataset, the wizard asks for:

Field Description

Task

Required. Describes what was recorded, for example rest. The default is rest.

Session

Optional, for example 01. If you leave it empty, 001 is used.

Both labels may contain only letters and digits, without spaces or symbols.

Each device becomes one BIDS subject, labelled with its device ID. For example, a device with the ID 84D1 is written to sub-84D1.

Converting CSV to BDF

To convert Explore .csv recordings to .bdf:

  1. Open the wizard and select .csv.

  2. Select Single device for one recording, or Multiple devices to convert several at once.

  3. Select .bdf.

  4. Click Browse .csv… and select the _ExG.csv file or files.

  5. Click Browse… next to Output folder.

  6. Click Review, then Run conversion.

Each recording is written as <name>_ExG.bdf, with its markers included. If files with the same name already exist in the output folder, you are asked before they are replaced.

Requirements:

  • Only Explore _ExG.csv files can be converted.

  • Each _ExG.csv file needs its matching _Meta.csv file in the same folder.

  • Two selected files must not have the same name.

Values in the .bdf file can differ from the .csv file by less than 0.1 µV. Because .bdf stores data in whole seconds, a final partial second at the end of the recording is dropped.

Converting to EEGLAB datasets

Recordings in .csv, .bdf, or .edf format can be converted to .set files for EEGLAB in MATLAB.

To convert recordings to EEGLAB datasets:

  1. Open the wizard and select .csv or .bdf / .edf.

  2. Select Single device or Multiple devices.

  3. Select EEGLab .set.

  4. Click Browse folder… and select the folder containing the recordings. Every supported recording in the folder is converted.

  5. Click Review, then Run conversion.

The .set files are created in a new subfolder named datasets inside the selected folder.

To convert recordings from .csv format, the respective _Meta.csv file must be in the same folder.

Merging recordings

To merge two recordings from Hypersync-synchronized devices, select .csv or .xdf, then Multiple devices, then Merge into one recording.

For the full workflow, requirements, and troubleshooting, see Merging two 32-channel devices into a 64-channel recording.

Using a Session Status file

Mentalab Hypersync writes a Session Status file during a session. It records when each device was recording and whether it was synchronized. Session Status files are named SessionStatus<date>_<time>.csv or session_status_<date>_<time>.csv.

When you convert .BIN files, convert an .xdf file to BIDS, or merge recordings, you can attach a Session Status file to process the output.

To attach a Session Status file:

  1. In the Session health (optional) section, select Attach a Session Status file or folder.

  2. Click File… to select the Session Status file directly, or Folder… to select the folder that contains it.

  3. In the Processing section, select the options you want.

The options in the Processing section depend on the conversion. Options that need a Session Status file stay disabled until one is attached.

Option Available for Effect

Add sync-status markers

.BIN conversions, merging

Adds a marker at each point where a device’s sync status changed. Good Sync means the device was synchronized from that point on. Bad Sync means it had drifted out of sync. Use these markers to find and exclude unreliable sections.

Trim to when the device was recording

.BIN to .csv or .bdf

Cuts away the time before and after the session, keeping only the periods when the device was recording. See Exporting crops.

Keep only the time all devices overlap

.BIN to .csv or .bdf, with Multiple devices

Crops every file to the window in which all devices were recording, so every file covers exactly the same period.

Trim the start so devices begin together

.xdf to BIDS, with Multiple devices

Drops the first samples of each device so that all devices start on the same sample. This option does not need a Session Status file.

When converting an .xdf file to BIDS with a Session Status file attached, sync events are also written to each subject’s events.tsv file.

Exporting crops

If you select Trim to when the device was recording or Keep only the time all devices overlap, the Export Crop(s) window opens after the conversion. It lists the active recording periods found in the Session Status file.

  1. Check the periods you want to export. Use Select All or Deselect All to change all of them.

  2. Click Export.

Each selected period is saved as a separate file with crop and a number added to its name, for example Explore<name>_ExG_crop1.csv. Matching _ORN and _Marker files are cropped as well. The full converted file is kept.

With Keep only the time all devices overlap, the same periods are applied to the files of all devices.

The Export Crop(s) dialog listing three active recording periods, all selected.
Choosing which active periods to export

Presets and recent runs

The first page of the wizard has a panel with your recent runs and presets. Click an entry to skip directly to the Configure step with the same choices and options. You only need to select the files again.

Recent

The last three conversions you ran. Click Clear to empty the list.

Presets

Saved conversion settings. Four presets are included:

  • BIN → BIDS (multi) — with sync-status markers

  • BIN → CSV (single) — trimmed to when the device was recording

  • XDF → BIDS (multi) — BDF output, with the start trimmed so devices begin together

  • Merge two CSVs — with sync-status markers

To save your own preset, click Save this pipeline… on the Review page and enter a name. Your presets are marked with ★.

A preset stores the input, output, number of devices, options, and labels. It does not store file or folder paths.

To delete a preset, click the ✕ next to it, or right-click it and select Delete preset. To bring back deleted built-in presets, click Restore defaults.

For more information or support, contact support@mentalab.com.