# Active channels with respect to Neuropixel probe geometry (raw data)

**URL:** <https://community.brain-map.org/t/active-channels-with-respect-to-neuropixel-probe-geometry-raw-data/2621>\
**Category:** Technical\
**Tags:** brain-observatory-visual-coding, how-to, allensdk\
**Created:** [October 10, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.brain-map.org/t/active-channels-with-respect-to-neuropixel-probe-geometry-raw-data/2621 "2023-10-10T14:13:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ikharitonov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@ikharitonov](https://community.brain-map.org/u/ikharitonov)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.brain-map.org/t/active-channels-with-respect-to-neuropixel-probe-geometry-raw-data/2621/1 "2023-10-10T14:13:24Z")

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Hi there, is there a way to know which channels on the Neuropixel probes were used in each particular recording? Is there something like channel mapping metadata available for the raw spike\_band.dat files? In other words, how do I know where the chosen 384 channels are located on the probe?  
I want to use them for re-running spike sorting on the raw data. Thanks

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**Author:** ![joshs](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/community.brain-map.org/joshs/32/8_2.png) [@joshs](https://community.brain-map.org/u/joshs)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.brain-map.org/t/active-channels-with-respect-to-neuropixel-probe-geometry-raw-data/2621/2 "2023-10-10T17:21:26Z")

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For all of the Neuropixels recordings that have been released as part of the Allen Brain Observatory, the 384 channels closest to the tip were selected.