Choose an EEG setup for your lab according to the study protocol: required channels and their positions, access to raw data, event markers and participant preparation time. We compare EMOTIV catalogue models, from the two-channel MN8 to Flex 2 with a configurable cap. Your quote request should also cover software licensing, a computer, consumables and acceptance of a sample recording.

Comparison by the Numbers

EmotivPRO and Cortex API offer different data workflows. Check the specific device, computer operating system and app version; EMOTIV lists Flex support in PRO Mobile and PRO Tablet as coming soon. A USB receiver receives wireless data. The USB-C cable supplied with EPOC X or Flex 2 is for charging and does not by itself establish wired EEG transmission. A separate Extender setup requires checking the instructions.

How many channels do you really need?

This question determines your purchase, and the answer stems from your research question, not your budget.

• 2 channels: MN8. Two channels provide limited coverage. Check whether the available measurement locations match your hypothesis and planned analysis. An app metric does not by itself establish a participant's attention or stress.
• 5 channels: Insight. Check whether the fixed sensor positions and semi-dry electrodes suit the task. Preparation time and contact quality need assessing on an actual participant rather than inferring them from the channel count.
• 14 channels: EPOC X. The manufacturer specifies a fixed 14-channel layout. Compare the actual locations with the study protocol, sampling settings and references. More channels do not guarantee comparability with any particular publication.
• Up to 32 channels: Flex 2 Saline. Configurable placement lets you match sensor positions to the protocol. The cap has 74 openings, which are not 74 channels. Establish the sensor map, references, electrode type and cap size; the manufacturer offers 54, 56 and 58 cm.

Electrodes: How This Changes Your Daily Work

• MN8 dry electrodes. Acceptance includes fit and contact quality, including during participant movement. No gel does not mean an artifact-free recording.
• Semi-dry polymer (Insight): no gel; the sensors require moistening and periodic replacement.
• EPOC X and Flex 2 Saline electrodes. Prepare sensors according to the instructions and check contact before recording. Consumables, hydration, cleaning and replacement contribute to session costs. Do not assume faster preparation or better signal quality without comparing them in your own protocol.

For psychology and cognitive science labs

For teaching and research, compare the fixed EPOC X layout with the configurable Flex 2 cap. Choose according to electrode positions, references, software and the participant's task. Plan setup time, quality checks and one sample recording with export before accepting the complete workstation.

For UX research and neuromarketing

For a UX study, define the task, required signals and analysis method before comparing MN8, Insight or a larger setup. Synchronization with screen recording or eye tracking must be checked in the intended app. We do not promise a daily participant count or direct emotion measurement from the device alone.

For neurofeedback and teaching

For an EEG demonstration, choose the app, exercise and how results will be presented. Insight and MN8 differ in sensor count and position. Selecting a setup for neurofeedback also requires assessing the protocol and software; a built-in metric does not establish a therapeutic effect.

For projects combining EEG with virtual reality

Test EEG with the specific VR headset: pressure and sensor movement, electrode contact during movement and shared event markers. Mechanical compatibility does not establish time synchronization. If the project includes eye tracking, also consider the Pupil Labs eye-tracking module and a trial export with marker read-back from the apps in use.

Software and Licenses: What to Add to Your Budget

Separate hardware price from the software scope in the actual offer. EMOTIV includes PRO Lite, but it cannot export data and limits the number of recordings. CSV/EDF export in EmotivPRO requires an appropriate paid licence. A hardware bundle may include a licence for a defined period; confirm its name, accounts, seats, term and renewal cost. Access through a custom Cortex app has separate requirements, including permissions for the EEG stream.

What to include in a complete setup request

• Model and revision, sensor positions, references, cap type and size.
• Computer and operating system, connection method, receiver and required consumables.
• Recording and export licence, any API/LSL access, seat count and access period.
• Local or cloud storage, accounts and team permissions.
• A recording trial: sensor contact, event markers, export and opening the file in the analysis tool.

Before the licence ends, export the recordings you need and verify your own copies. EMOTIV describes restricted access to paid recordings after downgrading to Lite. The manufacturer also states that affective metrics are unavailable in workplace and educational deployments; establish the permitted app scope before ordering.

Emotiv kits are research and neurofeedback devices. They are not medical devices and are not intended for diagnostic purposes.

Purchase by a university or institute

Include the protocol or required specifications, workstation count, cap sizes and intended software in your university quote request. Separate hardware, consumables, licences and the agreed configuration scope in the offer. We issue VAT invoices to institutions and prepare kit specifications; timing, availability and service scope are confirmed in the actual quote.

Documentation to check before purchase

• EMOTIV: EPOC X and connections
• EMOTIV: Flex 2, cap and electrodes
• EMOTIV: PRO plans and supported apps
• EMOTIV: PRO Lite limits
• EMOTIV: CSV/EDF export for analysis
• EMOTIV: Cortex API and licence scope
• EMOTIV: recordings after licence expiry

FAQ

How many EEG channels are needed for scientific research?

There is no single minimum for every study. Match channels, their positions, references and sampling to the protocol and analysis. EPOC X has a fixed 14-channel layout; Flex 2 allows up to 32 configurable channels. The count alone does not guarantee comparability with a publication.

How do saline electrodes differ from gel electrodes?

They differ in preparation and consumables. Check the exact variant, instructions, preparation time, contact quality and signal quality in your protocol. Do not assume that one technology is automatically faster or better.

Does the kit require a separate license?

Confirm the scope of the actual offer. PRO Lite cannot export recordings; EmotivPRO export requires an appropriate paid licence. A bundle may already include access for a defined period. Check API, LSL, seats and renewal separately.

Is Emotiv medical equipment?

No. It is research and neurofeedback equipment, not intended for diagnosis or treatment.

Can the EEG be connected to VR headsets?

Assess feasibility on the specific setup. Check pressure and sensor movement under the headset strap, contact quality during movement, shared markers and exported data. Mechanical fit alone does not establish data synchronization.

Do you issue invoices for universities and assist with technical specifications?

Yes. We provide a VAT invoice per unit, technical specifications for a request for proposal, and registration details for the procurement process.

See the related guides: VR trackers and full body tracking · PICO Enterprise or Meta Quest for business.

Describe the research topic and the number of workstations, and we’ll prepare a kit selection and quote: request a quote per unit. All models: neurotechnology.