# MNE-BIDS emptyroom recording saving style

**URL:** <https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-bids-emptyroom-recording-saving-style/10819>\
**Category:** Support & Discussions\
**Tags:** mne-bids, mne-bids-pipeline\
**Created:** [February 19, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-bids-emptyroom-recording-saving-style/10819 "2025-02-19T16:03:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![allermat](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/allermat/32/43_2.png) [@allermat](https://mne.discourse.group/u/allermat)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-bids-emptyroom-recording-saving-style/10819/1 "2025-02-19T16:03:20Z")

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Hi,

MNE-BIDS writes the emptyroom recordings in a separate subject, called `sub-emptyroom` with separate subfolders for each recording session based on date, like it is described in the BIDS Specification [here](https://bids-specification.readthedocs.io/en/stable/modality-specific-files/magnetoencephalography.html#example-1).

However, the BIDS specification describes a second option, where each individual’s emptyroom recording is saved within the same session as the other data (as shown [here](https://bids-specification.readthedocs.io/en/stable/modality-specific-files/magnetoencephalography.html#example-2)).

This is perhaps a more intuitive way of saving the emptyroom data and in some cases it would be preferred.

I couldn’t find any sign that this option is supported in MNE-BIDS, but is there a way of achieveing this with the current version?

In this case would MNE-BIDS-Pipeline still be able to find the emptyroom recording or throw and error that it is missing?

Many thanks,  
Máté

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**Author:** ![richard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/richard/32/15_2.png) [@richard](https://mne.discourse.group/u/richard)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-bids-emptyroom-recording-saving-style/10819/2 "2025-02-19T21:04:11Z")

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Hello, this question was just discussed on the GitHub issue tracker:

> <https://github.com/mne-tools/mne-bids/issues/1373>
>
> We're working with OPM. Due to some sensor non-stationarity, right now we are co…llecting emptyroom recordings before (and even after) each subject.
> 
> Is there a way for me to have multiple emptyroom recordings per day, eg associate a specific \*time\* with the empty room recordings?
> 
> Right now I'm just saving the empty room in the subject's \`meg\` directory. 
> But it would be nice 1) match the standard and 2) link the data and emptyroom recordings.

Best wishes,  
Richard

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**Author:** ![allermat](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/allermat/32/43_2.png) [@allermat](https://mne.discourse.group/u/allermat)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-bids-emptyroom-recording-saving-style/10819/3 "2025-02-20T15:20:35Z")

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Thanks @richard that’s exactly what I was looking for. I’m keeping an eye on when this option will be implemented here:

> <https://github.com/mne-tools/mne-bids/issues/1374>
>
> \> I actually thought passing \`empty\_room\` would store it in the subject's direct…ory. We should definitely support this. In fact, I'd suggest this should become our default behavior… 
> 
> \_Originally posted by @hoechenberger in \[#1373\](https://github.com/mne-tools/mne-bids/issues/1373#issuecomment-2669746708)\_
> 
> \> I think we should support both strategies supported in the BIDS spec and make it easy for users to adopt either of them.
> 
> \_Originally posted by @sappelhoff in \[#1373\](https://github.com/mne-tools/mne-bids/issues/1373#issuecomment-2669785928)\_

In the meantime we can do it manually as suggested [here](https://github.com/mne-tools/mne-bids/issues/1373#issuecomment-2669590289).

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/mne/original/1X/85cc6bd2b69cb698a166dc6d880fb550510d0144.jpeg) [@system](https://mne.discourse.group/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/mne-bids-emptyroom-recording-saving-style/10819/4 "2025-02-27T15:21:18Z")

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Closed on February 27, 2025, 3:21pm UTC

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