Python file reader (or permission to port MATLAB file reader)?

[drammock]

I notice that this repo does not have functionality for opening otb+ files, but the OTB-MATLAB repo does. I would like to have that functionality in the MNE suite of packages (perhaps in MNE-BIDS, or in a companion package dedicated to EMG file readers). The OTB-MATLAB repo does not have a license file, so before I read the code I would like to know if I'll legally be able to translate it to Python (all the MNE tools have a BSD 3-clause license, so if the intended license for OTB-MATLAB is a copyleft license, I can't legally translate it). Alternatively, you may indicate here permission to re-license the code as BSD-3 in the process of translating it to Python. If any part of this request/process is unclear, feel free to ask and I'll try to explain more clearly!

(note: I'm a maintainer of MNE-BIDS, MNE-Python, etc, so I have the needed permissions to get this work merged in when it's ready).

ps: of course if you already have private Python code for reading otb+ files, that you'd be willing to make public, that would save me the trouble of translating from MATLAB 🙂

[OTBioelettronica]

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for your message, we really appreciate it, and I'm happy you reached out!

You have our permission to translate the MATLAB code for opening OTB+ files into Python and integrate it into MNE-BIDS (or any other MNE package) under a BSD 3-clause license.

Just to give you a bit more context: we actually have two file formats: .otb+ and .otb4, which are quite similar. I can provide you with all the details you might need to ensure the reader is accurate and complete. Please feel free to contact me directly at s.posella@otbioelettronica.it.

We are a small company (8 people) and at the moment I’m the only developer, so I’m sorry we don’t already have a Python reader available, it’s sometimes a bit hard for me to keep up with everything. Our company philosophy is to provide software and scripts for free, without licensing restrictions or monetization in the research community, so we’re more than happy to support your effort.

By the way, I’m not very familiar with MNE-BIDS personally, but I’ve just had a look and it seems incredible, truly impressive work, congratulations!

Thanks again, and looking forward to collaborating.

Kind regards,
Simone

[drammock]

wonderful, thank you!

I can provide you with all the details you might need to ensure the reader is accurate and complete. Please feel free to contact me directly

Thanks, that would be great. For starters if there are small test files for each format that would already be a big help. I have some experimental data in otb+ format but none in otb4 (and anyway smaller files means faster iteration when testing).

[OTBioelettronica]

Hi Daniel,

Thanks again for your reply !

I’ve uploaded the files here: https://we.tl/t-mPCkPoRWVh
You’ll find:

• The MATLAB code for reading .otb4 files
• A small example .otb4 file recorded with a device called Sessantaquattro+ (64 EMG channels + 4 inertial channels + 2 accessory channels)
• A small example .otb+ file recorded with a Muovi device (32 EMG channels + 4 inertial channels + 2 accessory channels)

The MATLAB code should be fairly self-explanatory, but just to give you a bit more context:
Both .otb+ and .otb4 are archive formats (they can be extracted or browsed internally).
They contain:

• A .sig file with raw binary data
• Metadata files used to load the channels (we call them "tracks")
  In the case of .otb4, there’s a file called Tracks.xml that lists the channels and defines properties for each of them.

Let me know if you'd like any additional details!

Simone