Guides · Athena
Muse S Athena raw EEG on the desktop
August 23, 2026 · 3 min
MindVault connects Muse S Athena directly to the desktop, records four-channel EEG to CSV, and exports EDF. LSL and OSC are coming next in Lab.
MindVault’s current Athena release pairs Muse S Athena (MS-03) over the computer’s Bluetooth, shows four EEG channels at 256 Hz, records them locally to CSV, and exports EDF. No Interaxon SDK installation. No meditation app in the loop.
Athena hardware and MindVault output
According to the official Muse Platform + Data specifications, Athena hardware includes four EEG channels at 256 Hz, PPG at 64 Hz, fNIRS optics, SpO2, and motion sensing. MindVault’s current release centers on TP9, AF7, AF8, and TP10 EEG; PPG, fNIRS, SpO2, and motion export sit on the research roadmap.
Current BlueMuse 3.1 lists Athena support as experimental and not verified in its README. Interaxon’s licensed research software officially supports Athena streaming and recording. MindVault takes an Athena-first desktop route with a tested four-channel EEG workflow, local recording, and EDF export.
What the current Athena release supports
Pair Athena over the computer’s Bluetooth and see contact quality plus live EEG on the same desktop. No Interaxon SDK installation. No phone bridge.
Record four EEG channels locally to CSV and export EDF for Python, MNE, or EEGLAB. Controlled early access is rolling out across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Coming to Lab: LSL, OSC, an HTTP API, and event markers in the same Athena session.
For the available routes to put Muse EEG on a computer without a phone, see Muse EEG on a computer without the phone app. For BlueMuse version and reliability details, see the BlueMuse comparison.
Athena capability status in MindVault
The current Athena release covers the local EEG workflow. Plan access shows how each capability is packaged; the final column shows what joins the session in Lab.
| Feature | Current Athena release | Plan access | Coming to Lab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live EEG | Tested: 4 channels at 256 Hz | Free, Base, Lab | Same live session |
| CSV / EDF | Tested: CSV recording and EDF export | Base and above | Files alongside the live pipe |
| LSL / OSC | EEG + CSV/EDF today | Lab | LSL and OSC |
| HTTP API | EEG + CSV/EDF today | Lab | HTTP API |
| PPG / fNIRS export | EEG-focused release | Research roadmap | Later research work |
MindVault plans
Free brings 30 minutes of live Athena EEG and contact quality to the desktop.
Base ($19/mo) adds unlimited live view, local recording, CSV, and EDF.
Coming next in Lab ($49/mo): LSL, OSC, an HTTP API, and event markers in the same session.
Research roadmap ($99/mo): adjustable notch and bandpass filters, plus raw and filtered export.
Official specifications and implementation sources
Primary sources: Muse Platform + Data for Athena sensors, sampling rates, and official desktop research workflows; the Muse SDK developer page for SDK availability and licensing; and the BlueMuse README for Athena protocol and version status.
MindVault is onboarding Athena users through controlled early access. Leave your email; we will follow up about your operating system and workflow. One reply, not a newsletter.
FAQ
- Does Athena export PPG?
- Athena hardware includes both PPG at 64 Hz and fNIRS optics. MindVault’s current release focuses on exporting the four 256 Hz EEG channels to CSV and EDF; PPG and fNIRS export sit on the research roadmap.
- Is Interaxon’s SDK required for a live Athena desktop session?
- No. MindVault’s current Athena release pairs the headband over Bluetooth and handles live EEG, recording, CSV, and EDF inside the desktop app.
- Is Athena LSL on Base?
- LSL is coming next in Lab. Base centers on unlimited live view, local recording, CSV, and EDF export.
. Bring live 256 Hz EEG, contact quality, CSV recording, and EDF export to your desktop now. LSL and OSC are coming next in Lab.
