diff --git a/examples/tutorials/core/plot_4_sorting_analyzer.py b/examples/tutorials/core/plot_4_sorting_analyzer.py
index 96b5f57b0d..3b49e35fff 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/core/plot_4_sorting_analyzer.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/core/plot_4_sorting_analyzer.py
@@ -43,9 +43,8 @@
 ##############################################################################
 # Let's now instantiate the recording and sorting objects:
 
-recording = se.MEArecRecordingExtractor(local_path)
+recording, sorting = se.read_mearec(local_path)
 print(recording)
-sorting = se.MEArecSortingExtractor(local_path)
 print(sorting)
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/extractors/plot_1_read_various_formats.py b/examples/tutorials/extractors/plot_1_read_various_formats.py
index ef31b1dc76..b1fe277d92 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/extractors/plot_1_read_various_formats.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/extractors/plot_1_read_various_formats.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 # :py:class:`~spikeinterface.extractors.Spike2RecordingExtractor` object:
 #
 
-recording = se.Spike2RecordingExtractor(spike2_file_path, stream_id="0")
+recording = se.read_spike2(spike2_file_path, stream_id="0")
 print(recording)
 
 ##############################################################################
@@ -75,11 +75,6 @@
 print(sorting)
 print(type(sorting))
 
-##############################################################################
-#  The :py:func:`~spikeinterface.extractors.read_mearec` function is equivalent to:
-
-recording = se.MEArecRecordingExtractor(mearec_folder_path)
-sorting = se.MEArecSortingExtractor(mearec_folder_path)
 
 ##############################################################################
 # SI objects (:py:class:`~spikeinterface.core.BaseRecording` and :py:class:`~spikeinterface.core.BaseSorting`)
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/__init__.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/__init__.py
index 5e550017cc..7ac516e73b 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/__init__.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/__init__.py
@@ -1,9 +1,64 @@
-from .extractorlist import *
+from .extractor_classes import *
 
-from .toy_example import toy_example
-from .bids import read_bids
+from .toy_example import toy_example as toy_example
+from .bids import read_bids as read_bids
 
 
 from .neuropixels_utils import get_neuropixels_channel_groups, get_neuropixels_sample_shifts
 
 from .neoextractors import get_neo_num_blocks, get_neo_streams
+
+from warnings import warn
+
+
+# deprecation of class import idea from neuroconv
+# this __getattr__ is only triggered if the normal lookup fails so import
+# any of our functions is fine but if someone tries to import a class this raises
+# the warning and then returns the "function" version which will look the same
+# to the end-user
+# to be removed after version 0.105.0
+def __getattr__(extractor_name):
+    # we need this trick to allow us to use import * for spikeinterface.full
+    if extractor_name == "__all__":
+        __all__ = []
+        for imp in globals():
+            # need to remove a bunch of builtins etc that shouldn't be part of all
+            if imp[0] != "_" and imp != "warn" and imp != "extractor_name":
+                __all__.append(imp)
+        return __all__
+    all_extractors = list(recording_extractor_full_dict.values())
+    all_extractors += list(sorting_extractor_full_dict.values())
+    all_extractors += list(event_extractor_full_dict.values())
+    all_extractors += list(snippets_extractor_full_dict.values())
+    # special cases because they don't have simple wrappers
+    # instead a single wrapper maps to multiple classes so we return
+    # each class to check it
+    from .neoextractors import (
+        MEArecRecordingExtractor,
+        MEArecSortingExtractor,
+        OpenEphysBinaryEventExtractor,
+        OpenEphysBinaryRecordingExtractor,
+        OpenEphysLegacyRecordingExtractor,
+        SpikeGLXEventExtractor,
+    )
+
+    all_extractors += [
+        MEArecRecordingExtractor,
+        MEArecSortingExtractor,
+        OpenEphysBinaryEventExtractor,
+        OpenEphysBinaryRecordingExtractor,
+        OpenEphysLegacyRecordingExtractor,
+        SpikeGLXEventExtractor,
+    ]
+    for reading_function in all_extractors:
+        if extractor_name == reading_function.__name__:
+            dep_msg = (
+                "Importing classes at __init__ has been deprecated in favor of only importing function-size wrappers "
+                "and will be removed in 0.105.0. For developers that prefer working with the class versions of extractors "
+                "they can be imported from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes"
+            )
+            warn(dep_msg)
+            return reading_function
+    # this is necessary for objects that we don't support
+    # normally this is an ImportError but since this is in the __getattr__ pytest needs an AttributeError
+    raise AttributeError(f"cannot import name '{extractor_name}' from '{__name__}'")
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/extractor_classes.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/extractor_classes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8d4aa8ed32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/extractor_classes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+
+# most important extractor are in spikeinterface.core
+from spikeinterface.core import (
+    BinaryFolderRecording,
+    BinaryRecordingExtractor,
+    NumpyRecording,
+    NpzSortingExtractor,
+    NumpySorting,
+    NpySnippetsExtractor,
+    ZarrRecordingExtractor,
+    ZarrSortingExtractor,
+    read_binary,
+    read_zarr,
+    read_npz_sorting,
+    read_npy_snippets,
+)
+
+# sorting/recording/event from neo
+from .neoextractors import *
+
+# non-NEO objects implemented in neo folder
+# keep for reference Currently pulling from neoextractor __init__
+# from .neoextractors import NeuroScopeSortingExtractor, MaxwellEventExtractor
+
+# NWB sorting/recording/event
+from .nwbextractors import (
+    NwbRecordingExtractor,
+    NwbSortingExtractor,
+    NwbTimeSeriesExtractor,
+    read_nwb,
+    read_nwb_recording,
+    read_nwb_sorting,
+    read_nwb_timeseries,
+)
+
+from .cbin_ibl import CompressedBinaryIblExtractor, read_cbin_ibl
+from .iblextractors import IblRecordingExtractor, IblSortingExtractor, read_ibl_recording, read_ibl_sorting
+from .mcsh5extractors import MCSH5RecordingExtractor, read_mcsh5
+from .whitematterrecordingextractor import WhiteMatterRecordingExtractor, read_whitematter
+
+# sorting extractors in relation with a sorter
+from .cellexplorersortingextractor import CellExplorerSortingExtractor, read_cellexplorer
+from .klustaextractors import KlustaSortingExtractor, read_klusta
+from .hdsortextractors import HDSortSortingExtractor, read_hdsort
+from .mclustextractors import MClustSortingExtractor, read_mclust
+from .waveclustextractors import WaveClusSortingExtractor, read_waveclus
+from .yassextractors import YassSortingExtractor, read_yass
+from .combinatoextractors import CombinatoSortingExtractor, read_combinato
+from .tridesclousextractors import TridesclousSortingExtractor, read_tridesclous
+from .spykingcircusextractors import SpykingCircusSortingExtractor, read_spykingcircus
+from .herdingspikesextractors import HerdingspikesSortingExtractor, read_herdingspikes
+from .mdaextractors import MdaRecordingExtractor, MdaSortingExtractor, read_mda_recording, read_mda_sorting
+from .phykilosortextractors import PhySortingExtractor, KiloSortSortingExtractor, read_phy, read_kilosort
+from .sinapsrecordingextractors import (
+    SinapsResearchPlatformRecordingExtractor,
+    SinapsResearchPlatformH5RecordingExtractor,
+    read_sinaps_research_platform,
+    read_sinaps_research_platform_h5,
+)
+
+# sorting in relation with simulator
+from .shybridextractors import (
+    SHYBRIDRecordingExtractor,
+    SHYBRIDSortingExtractor,
+    read_shybrid_recording,
+    read_shybrid_sorting,
+)
+
+# snippers
+from .waveclussnippetstextractors import WaveClusSnippetsExtractor, read_waveclus_snippets
+
+
+# misc
+from .alfsortingextractor import ALFSortingExtractor, read_alf_sorting
+
+
+###############################################################################################
+# the following code is necessary for controlling what the end user imports from spikeinterface.
+# The strategy has three goals:
+#
+#    * A mapping from the original class to its wrapper (because that's what we want to expose)
+#    * A mapping from the original class to its wrapper string (because of __all__)
+#    * A mapping from format to the class wrapper for convenience (exposed to users for ease of use)
+#
+# To achieve these there goals we do the following:
+#
+# 1) we line up each class with its wrapper that returns a snakecase version of the class (in some docs called
+#    the "function" version, although this is just a wrapper of the underlying class)
+# 2) we do (1) by creating nested dicts where the key is the original class and the values are a nested dict with
+# 3) a "wrapper_class" key which returns the wrapper to be exposed to the end user and
+# 4) a "wrapper_string" which is added to the __all__ attribute of the __init__. This is necessary because __all__
+#    can only accept a list of strings
+# 5) Finally we create dictionaries exposed to the user where we return a formatted file format as a key along
+#    with the value being the wrapper (see the comment below for examples for this dict)
+#
+# Note that some formats (e.g. binary and numpy) still use the class format as they aren't read-only (i.e. they
+# have no wrapper)
+
+_recording_extractor_full_dict = {
+    # core extractors that are returned as classes
+    BinaryFolderRecording: dict(wrapper_string="BinaryFolderRecording", wrapper_class=BinaryFolderRecording),
+    BinaryRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="BinaryRecordingExtractor", wrapper_class=BinaryRecordingExtractor),
+    ZarrRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="ZarrRecordingExtractor", wrapper_class=ZarrRecordingExtractor),
+    # natively implemented in spikeinterface.extractors
+    NumpyRecording: dict(wrapper_string="NumpyRecording", wrapper_class=NumpyRecording),
+    SHYBRIDRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_shybrid_recording", wrapper_class=read_shybrid_recording),
+    MdaRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_mda_recording", wrapper_class=read_mda_recording),
+    NwbRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_nwb_recording", wrapper_class=read_nwb_recording),
+    NwbTimeSeriesExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_nwb_timeseries", wrapper_class=read_nwb_timeseries),
+    # others
+    CompressedBinaryIblExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_cbin_ibl", wrapper_class=read_cbin_ibl),
+    IblRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_ibl_recording", wrapper_class=read_ibl_recording),
+    MCSH5RecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_mcsh5", wrapper_class=read_mcsh5),
+    SinapsResearchPlatformRecordingExtractor: dict(
+        wrapper_string="read_sinaps_research_platform", wrapper_class=read_sinaps_research_platform
+    ),
+    SinapsResearchPlatformH5RecordingExtractor: dict(
+        wrapper_string="read_sinaps_research_platform_h5", wrapper_class=read_sinaps_research_platform_h5
+    ),
+    WhiteMatterRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_whitematter", wrapper_class=read_whitematter),
+}
+_recording_extractor_full_dict.update(neo_recording_extractors_dict)
+
+_sorting_extractor_full_dict = {
+    NpzSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_npz_sorting", wrapper_class=read_npz_sorting),
+    ZarrSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="ZarrSortingExtractor", wrapper_class=ZarrSortingExtractor),
+    NumpySorting: dict(wrapper_string="NumpySorting", wrapper_class=NumpySorting),
+    # natively implemented in spikeinterface.extractors
+    MdaSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_mda_sorting", wrapper_class=read_mda_sorting),
+    SHYBRIDSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_shybrid_sorting", wrapper_class=read_shybrid_sorting),
+    ALFSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_alf_sorting", wrapper_class=read_alf_sorting),
+    KlustaSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_klusta", wrapper_class=read_klusta),
+    HDSortSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_hdsort", wrapper_class=read_hdsort),
+    MClustSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_mclust", wrapper_class=read_mclust),
+    WaveClusSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_waveclus", wrapper_class=read_waveclus),
+    YassSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_yass", wrapper_class=read_yass),
+    CombinatoSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_combinato", wrapper_class=read_combinato),
+    TridesclousSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_tridesclous", wrapper_class=read_tridesclous),
+    SpykingCircusSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_spykingcircus", wrapper_class=read_spykingcircus),
+    HerdingspikesSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_herdingspikes", wrapper_class=read_herdingspikes),
+    KiloSortSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_kilosort", wrapper_class=read_kilosort),
+    PhySortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_phy", wrapper_class=read_phy),
+    NwbSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_nwb_sorting", wrapper_class=read_nwb_sorting),
+    IblSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_ibl_sorting", wrapper_class=read_ibl_sorting),
+    CellExplorerSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_cellexplorer", wrapper_class=read_cellexplorer),
+}
+_sorting_extractor_full_dict.update(neo_sorting_extractors_dict)
+
+# events only from neo
+_event_extractor_full_dict = neo_event_extractors_dict
+
+_snippets_extractor_full_dict = {
+    NpySnippetsExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_npy_snippets", wrapper_class=read_npy_snippets),
+    WaveClusSnippetsExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_waveclus_snippets", wrapper_class=read_waveclus_snippets),
+}
+
+############################################################################################################
+# Organize the possible extractors into a user facing format with keys being extractor names
+# (e.g. 'intan' , 'kilosort') and values being the appropriate Extractor class returned as its wrapper
+# (e.g. IntanRecordingExtractor, KiloSortSortingExtractor)
+# An important note is the the formats are returned after performing `.lower()` so a format like
+# SpikeGLX will be a key of 'spikeglx'
+# for example if we wanted to create a recording from an intan file we could do the following:
+# >>> recording = se.recording_extractor_full_dict['intan'](file_path='path/to/data.rhd')
+
+
+recording_extractor_full_dict = {
+    rec_class.__name__.replace("Recording", "").replace("Extractor", "").lower(): rec_func["wrapper_class"]
+    for rec_class, rec_func in _recording_extractor_full_dict.items()
+}
+sorting_extractor_full_dict = {
+    sort_class.__name__.replace("Sorting", "").replace("Extractor", "").lower(): sort_func["wrapper_class"]
+    for sort_class, sort_func in _sorting_extractor_full_dict.items()
+}
+event_extractor_full_dict = {
+    event_class.__name__.replace("Event", "").replace("Extractor", "").lower(): event_func["wrapper_class"]
+    for event_class, event_func in _event_extractor_full_dict.items()
+}
+snippets_extractor_full_dict = {
+    snippets_class.__name__.replace("Snippets", "").replace("Extractor", "").lower(): snippets_func["wrapper_class"]
+    for snippets_class, snippets_func in _snippets_extractor_full_dict.items()
+}
+
+
+# we only do the functions in the init rather than pull in the classes
+__all__ = [func["wrapper_string"] for func in _recording_extractor_full_dict.values()]
+__all__ += [func["wrapper_string"] for func in _sorting_extractor_full_dict.values()]
+__all__ += [func["wrapper_string"] for func in _event_extractor_full_dict.values()]
+__all__ += [func["wrapper_string"] for func in _snippets_extractor_full_dict.values()]
+__all__.extend(
+    [
+        "read_nwb",  # convenience function for multiple nwb formats
+        "recording_extractor_full_dict",
+        "sorting_extractor_full_dict",
+        "event_extractor_full_dict",
+        "snippets_extractor_full_dict",
+        "read_binary",  # convenience function for binary formats
+        "read_zarr",
+    ]
+)
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/extractorlist.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/extractorlist.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 6e872cde58..0000000000
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/extractorlist.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,146 +0,0 @@
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-from typing import Type
-
-# most important extractor are in spikeinterface.core
-from spikeinterface.core import (
-    BaseRecording,
-    BaseSorting,
-    BinaryFolderRecording,
-    BinaryRecordingExtractor,
-    NumpyRecording,
-    NpzSortingExtractor,
-    NumpySorting,
-    NpySnippetsExtractor,
-    ZarrRecordingExtractor,
-    ZarrSortingExtractor,
-    read_binary,
-    read_zarr,
-    read_npz_sorting,
-)
-
-# sorting/recording/event from neo
-from .neoextractors import *
-
-# non-NEO objects implemented in neo folder
-from .neoextractors import NeuroScopeSortingExtractor, MaxwellEventExtractor
-
-# NWB sorting/recording/event
-from .nwbextractors import (
-    NwbRecordingExtractor,
-    NwbSortingExtractor,
-    NwbTimeSeriesExtractor,
-    read_nwb,
-    read_nwb_recording,
-    read_nwb_sorting,
-    read_nwb_timeseries,
-)
-
-from .cbin_ibl import CompressedBinaryIblExtractor, read_cbin_ibl
-from .iblextractors import IblRecordingExtractor, IblSortingExtractor, read_ibl_recording, read_ibl_sorting
-from .mcsh5extractors import MCSH5RecordingExtractor, read_mcsh5
-from .whitematterrecordingextractor import WhiteMatterRecordingExtractor
-
-# sorting extractors in relation with a sorter
-from .cellexplorersortingextractor import CellExplorerSortingExtractor, read_cellexplorer
-from .klustaextractors import KlustaSortingExtractor, read_klusta
-from .hdsortextractors import HDSortSortingExtractor, read_hdsort
-from .mclustextractors import MClustSortingExtractor, read_mclust
-from .waveclustextractors import WaveClusSortingExtractor, read_waveclus
-from .yassextractors import YassSortingExtractor, read_yass
-from .combinatoextractors import CombinatoSortingExtractor, read_combinato
-from .tridesclousextractors import TridesclousSortingExtractor, read_tridesclous
-from .spykingcircusextractors import SpykingCircusSortingExtractor, read_spykingcircus
-from .herdingspikesextractors import HerdingspikesSortingExtractor, read_herdingspikes
-from .mdaextractors import MdaRecordingExtractor, MdaSortingExtractor, read_mda_recording, read_mda_sorting
-from .phykilosortextractors import PhySortingExtractor, KiloSortSortingExtractor, read_phy, read_kilosort
-from .sinapsrecordingextractors import (
-    SinapsResearchPlatformRecordingExtractor,
-    SinapsResearchPlatformH5RecordingExtractor,
-    read_sinaps_research_platform,
-    read_sinaps_research_platform_h5,
-)
-
-# sorting in relation with simulator
-from .shybridextractors import (
-    SHYBRIDRecordingExtractor,
-    SHYBRIDSortingExtractor,
-    read_shybrid_recording,
-    read_shybrid_sorting,
-)
-
-# snippers
-from .waveclussnippetstextractors import WaveClusSnippetsExtractor, read_waveclus_snippets
-
-
-# misc
-from .alfsortingextractor import ALFSortingExtractor, read_alf_sorting
-
-
-########################################
-
-recording_extractor_full_list = [
-    BinaryFolderRecording,
-    BinaryRecordingExtractor,
-    ZarrRecordingExtractor,
-    # natively implemented in spikeinterface.extractors
-    NumpyRecording,
-    SHYBRIDRecordingExtractor,
-    MdaRecordingExtractor,
-    NwbRecordingExtractor,
-    # others
-    CompressedBinaryIblExtractor,
-    IblRecordingExtractor,
-    MCSH5RecordingExtractor,
-    SinapsResearchPlatformRecordingExtractor,
-    WhiteMatterRecordingExtractor,
-]
-recording_extractor_full_list += neo_recording_extractors_list
-
-sorting_extractor_full_list = [
-    NpzSortingExtractor,
-    ZarrSortingExtractor,
-    NumpySorting,
-    # natively implemented in spikeinterface.extractors
-    MdaSortingExtractor,
-    SHYBRIDSortingExtractor,
-    ALFSortingExtractor,
-    KlustaSortingExtractor,
-    HDSortSortingExtractor,
-    MClustSortingExtractor,
-    WaveClusSortingExtractor,
-    YassSortingExtractor,
-    CombinatoSortingExtractor,
-    TridesclousSortingExtractor,
-    SpykingCircusSortingExtractor,
-    HerdingspikesSortingExtractor,
-    KiloSortSortingExtractor,
-    PhySortingExtractor,
-    NwbSortingExtractor,
-    NeuroScopeSortingExtractor,
-    IblSortingExtractor,
-]
-sorting_extractor_full_list += neo_sorting_extractors_list
-
-event_extractor_full_list = [MaxwellEventExtractor]
-event_extractor_full_list += neo_event_extractors_list
-
-snippets_extractor_full_list = [NpySnippetsExtractor, WaveClusSnippetsExtractor]
-
-recording_extractor_full_dict = {}
-for rec_class in recording_extractor_full_list:
-    # here we get the class name, remove "Recording" and "Extractor" and make it lower case
-    rec_class_name = rec_class.__name__.replace("Recording", "").replace("Extractor", "").lower()
-    recording_extractor_full_dict[rec_class_name] = rec_class
-
-sorting_extractor_full_dict = {}
-for sort_class in sorting_extractor_full_list:
-    # here we get the class name, remove "Extractor" and make it lower case
-    sort_class_name = sort_class.__name__.replace("Sorting", "").replace("Extractor", "").lower()
-    sorting_extractor_full_dict[sort_class_name] = sort_class
-
-event_extractor_full_dict = {}
-for event_class in event_extractor_full_list:
-    # here we get the class name, remove "Extractor" and make it lower case
-    event_class_name = event_class.__name__.replace("Event", "").replace("Extractor", "").lower()
-    event_extractor_full_dict[event_class_name] = event_class
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/iblextractors.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/iblextractors.py
index 9c5020b098..2f672aafde 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/iblextractors.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/iblextractors.py
@@ -359,5 +359,5 @@ def __init__(
         self._kwargs = dict(pid=pid, good_clusters_only=good_clusters_only, load_unit_properties=load_unit_properties)
 
 
-read_ibl_recording = define_function_from_class(source_class=IblRecordingExtractor, name="read_ibl_streaming_recording")
+read_ibl_recording = define_function_from_class(source_class=IblRecordingExtractor, name="read_ibl_recording")
 read_ibl_sorting = define_function_from_class(source_class=IblSortingExtractor, name="read_ibl_sorting")
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/__init__.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/__init__.py
index 03d517b46e..269731d5c3 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/__init__.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/__init__.py
@@ -42,42 +42,47 @@
 
 from .neo_utils import get_neo_streams, get_neo_num_blocks
 
-neo_recording_extractors_list = [
-    AlphaOmegaRecordingExtractor,
-    AxonaRecordingExtractor,
-    BiocamRecordingExtractor,
-    BlackrockRecordingExtractor,
-    CedRecordingExtractor,
-    EDFRecordingExtractor,
-    IntanRecordingExtractor,
-    MaxwellRecordingExtractor,
-    MEArecRecordingExtractor,
-    MCSRawRecordingExtractor,
-    NeuralynxRecordingExtractor,
-    NeuroScopeRecordingExtractor,
-    NeuroNexusRecordingExtractor,
-    NixRecordingExtractor,
-    OpenEphysBinaryRecordingExtractor,
-    OpenEphysLegacyRecordingExtractor,
-    PlexonRecordingExtractor,
-    Plexon2RecordingExtractor,
-    Spike2RecordingExtractor,
-    SpikeGadgetsRecordingExtractor,
-    SpikeGLXRecordingExtractor,
-    TdtRecordingExtractor,
-    NeuroExplorerRecordingExtractor,
-]
+neo_recording_extractors_dict = {
+    AlphaOmegaRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_alphaomega", wrapper_class=read_alphaomega),
+    AxonaRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_axona", wrapper_class=read_axona),
+    BiocamRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_biocam", wrapper_class=read_biocam),
+    BlackrockRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_blackrock", wrapper_class=read_blackrock),
+    CedRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_ced", wrapper_class=read_ced),
+    EDFRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_edf", wrapper_class=read_edf),
+    IntanRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_intan", wrapper_class=read_intan),
+    MaxwellRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_maxwell", wrapper_class=read_maxwell),
+    MEArecRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_mearec", wrapper_class=read_mearec),
+    MCSRawRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_mcsraw", wrapper_class=read_mcsraw),
+    NeuralynxRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_neuralynx", wrapper_class=read_neuralynx),
+    NeuroScopeRecordingExtractor: dict(
+        wrapper_string="read_neuroscope_recording", wrapper_class=read_neuroscope_recording
+    ),
+    NeuroNexusRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_neuronexus", wrapper_class=read_neuronexus),
+    NixRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_nix", wrapper_class=read_nix),
+    OpenEphysBinaryRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_openephys", wrapper_class=read_openephys),
+    OpenEphysLegacyRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_openephys", wrapper_class=read_openephys),
+    PlexonRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_plexon", wrapper_class=read_plexon),
+    Plexon2RecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_plexon2", wrapper_class=read_plexon2),
+    Spike2RecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_spike2", wrapper_class=read_spike2),
+    SpikeGadgetsRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_spikegadgets", wrapper_class=read_spikegadgets),
+    SpikeGLXRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_spikeglx", wrapper_class=read_spikeglx),
+    TdtRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_tdt", wrapper_class=read_tdt),
+    NeuroExplorerRecordingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_neuroexplorer", wrapper_class=read_neuroexplorer),
+}
 
-neo_sorting_extractors_list = [
-    BlackrockSortingExtractor,
-    MEArecSortingExtractor,
-    NeuralynxSortingExtractor,
-    Plexon2SortingExtractor,
-]
+neo_sorting_extractors_dict = {
+    BlackrockSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_blackrock_sorting", wrapper_class=read_blackrock_sorting),
+    MEArecSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_mearec", wrapper_class=read_mearec),
+    NeuralynxSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_neuralynx_sorting", wrapper_class=read_neuralynx_sorting),
+    PlexonSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_plexon_sorting", wrapper_class=read_plexon_sorting),
+    Plexon2SortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_plexon2_sorting", wrapper_class=read_plexon2_sorting),
+    NeuroScopeSortingExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_neuroscope_sorting", wrapper_class=read_neuroscope_sorting),
+}
 
-neo_event_extractors_list = [
-    AlphaOmegaEventExtractor,
-    OpenEphysBinaryEventExtractor,
-    Plexon2EventExtractor,
-    SpikeGLXEventExtractor,
-]
+neo_event_extractors_dict = {
+    AlphaOmegaEventExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_alphaomega_event", wrapper_class=read_alphaomega_event),
+    OpenEphysBinaryEventExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_openephys_event", wrapper_class=read_openephys_event),
+    Plexon2EventExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_plexon2_event", wrapper_class=read_plexon2_event),
+    SpikeGLXEventExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_spikeglx_event", wrapper_class=read_spikeglx_event),
+    MaxwellEventExtractor: dict(wrapper_string="read_maxwell_event", wrapper_class=read_maxwell_event),
+}
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/neo_utils.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/neo_utils.py
index 3de83ff607..ac705e8b4e 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/neo_utils.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/neoextractors/neo_utils.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def get_neo_num_blocks(extractor_name, *args, **kwargs) -> int:
 
 
 def get_neo_extractor(extractor_name):
-    from spikeinterface.extractors.extractorlist import recording_extractor_full_dict
+    from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import recording_extractor_full_dict
 
     assert extractor_name in recording_extractor_full_dict, (
         f"{extractor_name} not an extractor name:" f"\n{list(recording_extractor_full_dict.keys())}"
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_cbin_ibl_extractors.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_cbin_ibl_extractors.py
index 2e364b13bc..905994197e 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_cbin_ibl_extractors.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_cbin_ibl_extractors.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
-import numpy as np
 import unittest
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import CompressedBinaryIblExtractor, read_cbin_ibl
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import CompressedBinaryIblExtractor, read_cbin_ibl
 
 
 from spikeinterface.extractors.tests.common_tests import RecordingCommonTestSuite, SortingCommonTestSuite
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_iblextractors.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_iblextractors.py
index 334ca63d6a..adec4213e3 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_iblextractors.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_iblextractors.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from numpy.testing import assert_array_equal
 import pytest
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import read_ibl_recording, read_ibl_sorting, IblRecordingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import read_ibl_recording, read_ibl_sorting, IblRecordingExtractor
 
 EID = "e2b845a1-e313-4a08-bc61-a5f662ed295e"
 PID = "80f6ffdd-f692-450f-ab19-cd6d45bfd73e"
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_mdaextractors.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_mdaextractors.py
index ef8c73ac64..37dd9720fd 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_mdaextractors.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_mdaextractors.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from spikeinterface.core.testing import check_recordings_equal, check_sortings_equal
 from spikeinterface.core import generate_ground_truth_recording
-from spikeinterface.extractors import MdaRecordingExtractor, MdaSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import MdaRecordingExtractor, MdaSortingExtractor
 
 
 def test_mda_extractors(create_cache_folder):
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_neoextractors.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_neoextractors.py
index 395f1e0d9e..7ef3a362e8 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_neoextractors.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_neoextractors.py
@@ -8,7 +8,41 @@
 import pytest
 
 from spikeinterface import get_global_dataset_folder
-from spikeinterface.extractors import *
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import (
+    MEArecRecordingExtractor,
+    MEArecSortingExtractor,
+    SpikeGLXRecordingExtractor,
+    OpenEphysBinaryRecordingExtractor,
+    OpenEphysBinaryEventExtractor,
+    OpenEphysLegacyRecordingExtractor,
+    IntanRecordingExtractor,
+    NeuroScopeRecordingExtractor,
+    NeuroExplorerRecordingExtractor,
+    NeuroScopeSortingExtractor,
+    NeuroNexusRecordingExtractor,
+    PlexonRecordingExtractor,
+    PlexonSortingExtractor,
+    NeuralynxRecordingExtractor,
+    AlphaOmegaEventExtractor,
+    SpikeGadgetsRecordingExtractor,
+    Plexon2SortingExtractor,
+    NeuralynxSortingExtractor,
+    BlackrockRecordingExtractor,
+    BlackrockSortingExtractor,
+    MCSRawRecordingExtractor,
+    TdtRecordingExtractor,
+    BiocamRecordingExtractor,
+    AxonaRecordingExtractor,
+    Plexon2EventExtractor,
+    MaxwellRecordingExtractor,
+    CedRecordingExtractor,
+    AlphaOmegaRecordingExtractor,
+    Spike2RecordingExtractor,
+    EDFRecordingExtractor,
+    Plexon2RecordingExtractor,
+)
+
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import KiloSortSortingExtractor
 
 from spikeinterface.extractors.tests.common_tests import (
     RecordingCommonTestSuite,
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors.py
index 4bfc43dd69..15d3e8fee9 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors.py
@@ -5,7 +5,11 @@
 import pytest
 import numpy as np
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import NwbRecordingExtractor, NwbSortingExtractor, NwbTimeSeriesExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import (
+    NwbRecordingExtractor,
+    NwbSortingExtractor,
+    NwbTimeSeriesExtractor,
+)
 
 from spikeinterface.extractors.tests.common_tests import RecordingCommonTestSuite, SortingCommonTestSuite
 from spikeinterface.core.testing import check_recordings_equal
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors_streaming.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors_streaming.py
index 9724ec3d9f..84ae3c03bf 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors_streaming.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_nwbextractors_streaming.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from spikeinterface import load
 from spikeinterface.core.testing import check_recordings_equal
 from spikeinterface.core.testing import check_recordings_equal, check_sortings_equal
-from spikeinterface.extractors import NwbRecordingExtractor, NwbSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import NwbRecordingExtractor, NwbSortingExtractor
 
 
 @pytest.mark.streaming_extractors
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_shybridextractors.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_shybridextractors.py
index 221e1bfc2d..bc6f17d736 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_shybridextractors.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_shybridextractors.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from spikeinterface.core import generate_ground_truth_recording
 from spikeinterface.core.testing import check_recordings_equal, check_sortings_equal
-from spikeinterface.extractors import SHYBRIDRecordingExtractor, SHYBRIDSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import SHYBRIDRecordingExtractor, SHYBRIDSortingExtractor
 
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(True, reason="SHYBRID only tested locally")
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_whitematterrecordingextractor.py b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_whitematterrecordingextractor.py
index 546949d60f..ebd50b1822 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_whitematterrecordingextractor.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/extractors/tests/test_whitematterrecordingextractor.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 import pickle
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import WhiteMatterRecordingExtractor, BinaryRecordingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import WhiteMatterRecordingExtractor, BinaryRecordingExtractor
 from spikeinterface.core.numpyextractors import NumpyRecording
 from spikeinterface.core.testing import check_recordings_equal
 from spikeinterface import get_global_dataset_folder, download_dataset
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/__init__.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/__init__.py
index 4f63eb7900..bfa16d1670 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/__init__.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from .preprocessinglist import *
+from .preprocessing_classes import *
 
 from .motion import (
     correct_motion,
@@ -16,3 +16,34 @@
 
 # for snippets
 from .align_snippets import AlignSnippets
+from warnings import warn
+
+
+# deprecation of class import idea from neuroconv
+# this __getattr__ is only triggered if the normal lookup fails so import
+# any of our functions is fine but if someone tries to import a class this raises
+# the warning and then returns the "function" version which will look the same
+# to the end-user
+# to be removed after version 0.105.0
+def __getattr__(preprocessor_name):
+    # we need this trick to allow us to use import * for spikeinterface.full
+    if preprocessor_name == "__all__":
+        __all__ = []
+        for imp in globals():
+            # need to remove a bunch of builtins etc that shouldn't be part of all
+            if imp[0] != "_" and imp != "warn" and imp != "preprocessor_name":
+                __all__.append(imp)
+        return __all__
+    from .preprocessing_classes import _all_preprocesser_dict
+
+    for pp_class, pp_function in _all_preprocesser_dict.items():
+        if preprocessor_name == pp_class.__name__:
+            dep_msg = (
+                "Importing classes at __init__ has been deprecated in favor of only importing functions "
+                "and will be removed in 0.105.0. For developers that prefer working with the class versions of preprocessors "
+                "they can be imported from spikeinterface.preprocessors.preprocessor_classes."
+            )
+            warn(dep_msg)
+            return pp_function
+    # this is necessary for objects that we don't support
+    raise AttributeError(f"cannot import name '{preprocessor_name}' from '{__name__}'")
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/preprocessinglist.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/preprocessing_classes.py
similarity index 51%
rename from src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/preprocessinglist.py
rename to src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/preprocessing_classes.py
index 0745da4d64..705ed3428b 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/preprocessinglist.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/preprocessing_classes.py
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
     CenterRecording,
     center,
 )
-from .scale import scale_to_uV, scale_to_physical_units
 
+from .scale import scale_to_uV, ScaleToPhysicalUnits, scale_to_physical_units
 
 from .whiten import WhitenRecording, whiten, compute_whitening_matrix
 from .rectify import RectifyRecording, rectify
@@ -45,41 +45,49 @@
 from .astype import AstypeRecording, astype
 from .unsigned_to_signed import UnsignedToSignedRecording, unsigned_to_signed
 
-
-preprocessers_full_list = [
+_all_preprocesser_dict = {
     # filter stuff
-    FilterRecording,
-    BandpassFilterRecording,
-    HighpassFilterRecording,
-    NotchFilterRecording,
-    GaussianFilterRecording,
+    FilterRecording: filter,
+    BandpassFilterRecording: bandpass_filter,
+    HighpassFilterRecording: highpass_filter,
+    NotchFilterRecording: notch_filter,
+    GaussianFilterRecording: gaussian_filter,
     # gain offset stuff
-    NormalizeByQuantileRecording,
-    ScaleRecording,
-    CenterRecording,
-    ZScoreRecording,
+    NormalizeByQuantileRecording: normalize_by_quantile,
+    ScaleRecording: scale,
+    CenterRecording: center,
+    ZScoreRecording: zscore,
+    ScaleToPhysicalUnits: scale_to_physical_units,
     # decorrelation stuff
-    WhitenRecording,
+    WhitenRecording: whiten,
     # re-reference
-    CommonReferenceRecording,
-    PhaseShiftRecording,
+    CommonReferenceRecording: common_reference,
+    PhaseShiftRecording: phase_shift,
     # misc
-    RectifyRecording,
-    ClipRecording,
-    BlankSaturationRecording,
-    SilencedPeriodsRecording,
-    RemoveArtifactsRecording,
-    ZeroChannelPaddedRecording,
-    DeepInterpolatedRecording,
-    ResampleRecording,
-    DecimateRecording,
-    HighpassSpatialFilterRecording,
-    InterpolateBadChannelsRecording,
-    DepthOrderRecording,
-    AverageAcrossDirectionRecording,
-    DirectionalDerivativeRecording,
-    AstypeRecording,
-    UnsignedToSignedRecording,
-]
+    RectifyRecording: rectify,
+    ClipRecording: clip,
+    BlankSaturationRecording: blank_saturation,
+    SilencedPeriodsRecording: silence_periods,
+    RemoveArtifactsRecording: remove_artifacts,
+    ZeroChannelPaddedRecording: zero_channel_pad,
+    DeepInterpolatedRecording: deepinterpolate,
+    ResampleRecording: resample,
+    DecimateRecording: decimate,
+    HighpassSpatialFilterRecording: highpass_spatial_filter,
+    InterpolateBadChannelsRecording: interpolate_bad_channels,
+    DepthOrderRecording: depth_order,
+    AverageAcrossDirectionRecording: average_across_direction,
+    DirectionalDerivativeRecording: directional_derivative,
+    AstypeRecording: astype,
+    UnsignedToSignedRecording: unsigned_to_signed,
+}
+# we control import in the preprocessing init by setting an __all__
+
+# pp_function.__name__ gives the name of the function that users should use
+__all__ = [pp_function.__name__ for pp_function in _all_preprocesser_dict.values()]
+__all__.extend(
+    [scale_to_uV.__name__, compute_whitening_matrix.__name__, train_deepinterpolation.__name__, causal_filter.__name__]
+)
 
-preprocesser_dict = {pp_class.name: pp_class for pp_class in preprocessers_full_list}
+preprocessor_dict = {pp_class.__name__: pp_function for pp_class, pp_function in _all_preprocesser_dict.items()}
+__all__.append("preprocessor_dict")
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/scale.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/scale.py
index 3cb8719e58..9550583b75 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/scale.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/scale.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def scale_to_uV(recording: BasePreprocessor) -> BasePreprocessor:
         If the recording extractor does not have scaleable traces.
     """
     # To avoid a circular import
-    from spikeinterface.preprocessing import ScaleRecording
+    from spikeinterface.preprocessing.preprocessing_classes import ScaleRecording
 
     if not recording.has_scaleable_traces():
         error_msg = "Recording must have gains and offsets set to be scaled to µV"
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_average_across_direction.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_average_across_direction.py
index c0965d8e51..aa96841aaa 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_average_across_direction.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_average_across_direction.py
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
-import pytest
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from spikeinterface import set_global_tmp_folder
 from spikeinterface.core import NumpyRecording
 
-from spikeinterface.preprocessing import AverageAcrossDirectionRecording, average_across_direction
+from spikeinterface.preprocessing import average_across_direction
 
 import numpy as np
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_decimate.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_decimate.py
index aab17560a6..e9493145a6 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_decimate.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_decimate.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
-from pathlib import Path
 
-import itertools
+
 from spikeinterface import NumpyRecording
 from spikeinterface.core import generate_recording
 from spikeinterface.preprocessing.decimate import DecimateRecording
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_depth_order.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_depth_order.py
index b0dbc2a8da..3b4ea8f1f2 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_depth_order.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_depth_order.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-import pytest
-
 from spikeinterface.core import NumpyRecording
 
-from spikeinterface.preprocessing import DepthOrderRecording, depth_order
+from spikeinterface.preprocessing import depth_order
 
 import numpy as np
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_detect_bad_channels.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_detect_bad_channels.py
index 4622be1440..f0e22c4afd 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_detect_bad_channels.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_detect_bad_channels.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
 import numpy as np
+import importlib.util
+
 
 from spikeinterface import NumpyRecording, get_random_data_chunks
 from probeinterface import generate_linear_probe
@@ -7,14 +9,14 @@
 from spikeinterface.core import generate_recording
 from spikeinterface.preprocessing import detect_bad_channels, highpass_filter
 
-try:
-    # WARNING : this is not this package https://pypi.org/project/neurodsp/
-    # BUT this one https://github.com/int-brain-lab/ibl-neuropixel
-    # pip install ibl-neuropixel
-    import neurodsp.voltage
-
+# WARNING : this is not this package https://pypi.org/project/neurodsp/
+# BUT this one https://github.com/int-brain-lab/ibl-neuropixel
+# pip install ibl-neuropixel
+# note the check needs to find package first before submodule otherwise the check will fail if the library
+# does not exist
+if importlib.util.find_spec("neurodsp") is not None and importlib.util.find_spec("neurodsp.voltage") is not None:
     HAVE_NPIX = True
-except:  # Catch relevant exception
+else:
     HAVE_NPIX = False
 
 
@@ -115,6 +117,8 @@ def test_detect_bad_channels_ibl(num_channels):
     however for testing it is necssary. So before calling the IBL function
     we need to rescale the traces to Volts.
     """
+    import neurodsp.voltage
+
     # download_path = si.download_dataset(remote_path='spikeglx/Noise4Sam_g0')
     # recording = se.read_spikeglx(download_path, stream_id="imec0.ap")
     recording = generate_recording(num_channels=num_channels, durations=[1])
@@ -166,9 +170,9 @@ def test_detect_bad_channels_ibl(num_channels):
         channel_flags_ibl[:, i] = channel_flags
 
     # Take the mode of the chunk estimates as final result. Convert to binary good / bad channel output.
-    import scipy.stats
+    from scipy.stats import mode
 
-    bad_channel_labels_ibl, _ = scipy.stats.mode(channel_flags_ibl, axis=1, keepdims=False)
+    bad_channel_labels_ibl, _ = mode(channel_flags_ibl, axis=1, keepdims=False)
 
     # Compare
     channels_labeled_as_good = bad_channel_labels_si == "good"
@@ -216,7 +220,7 @@ def reduce_high_freq_power_in_non_noisy_channels(recording, is_noisy, not_noisy)
     Reduce power in >80% Nyquist for all channels except noisy channels to 20% of original.
     Return the psd_cutoff in uV^2/Hz that separates the good at noisy channels.
     """
-    import scipy.signal
+    from scipy.signal import welch
 
     for iseg, __ in enumerate(recording._recording_segments):
         data = recording.get_traces(iseg).T
@@ -230,7 +234,7 @@ def reduce_high_freq_power_in_non_noisy_channels(recording, is_noisy, not_noisy)
         data[not_noisy] = np.fft.ifft(np.fft.ifftshift(D))
 
     # calculate the psd_cutoff (which separates noisy and non-noisy) ad-hoc from the last segment
-    fscale, psd = scipy.signal.welch(data, fs=recording.get_sampling_frequency())
+    fscale, psd = welch(data, fs=recording.get_sampling_frequency())
     psd_cutoff = np.mean([np.mean(psd[not_noisy, -50:]), np.mean(psd[is_noisy, -50:])])
     return psd_cutoff
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_directional_derivative.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_directional_derivative.py
index 5f887ae35c..c12602fb12 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_directional_derivative.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_directional_derivative.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from spikeinterface.core import NumpyRecording
 
-from spikeinterface.preprocessing import DirectionalDerivativeRecording, directional_derivative
+from spikeinterface.preprocessing import directional_derivative
 
 import numpy as np
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_scaling.py b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_scaling.py
index 380b345329..aeae825c73 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_scaling.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/preprocessing/tests/test_scaling.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
 import numpy as np
-from spikeinterface.core.generate import generate_recording
-from spikeinterface.preprocessing import scale_to_uV, CenterRecording, scale_to_physical_units
+from spikeinterface.core.testing_tools import generate_recording
+from spikeinterface.preprocessing.preprocessing_classes import scale_to_uV, CenterRecording, scale_to_physical_units
 
 
 def test_scale_to_uV():
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/combinato.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/combinato.py
index 14bf218cdc..f67a01094e 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/combinato.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/combinato.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript
 from spikeinterface.core import write_to_h5_dataset_format
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter
-from spikeinterface.extractors import CombinatoSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import CombinatoSortingExtractor
 
 
 PathType = Union[str, Path]
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/hdsort.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/hdsort.py
index c5f510a631..8d3e3c44a3 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/hdsort.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/hdsort.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript
 
 # from spikeinterface.extractors import MaxOneRecordingExtractor
-from spikeinterface.extractors import HDSortSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import HDSortSortingExtractor
 
 PathType = Union[str, Path]
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/herdingspikes.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/herdingspikes.py
index 30535b48ed..70416bb944 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/herdingspikes.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/herdingspikes.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import HerdingspikesSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import HerdingspikesSortingExtractor
 
 
 class HerdingspikesSorter(BaseSorter):
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/ironclust.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/ironclust.py
index 4373cad254..1928918ccc 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/ironclust.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/ironclust.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter, get_job_kwargs
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import MdaRecordingExtractor, MdaSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import MdaRecordingExtractor, MdaSortingExtractor
 
 PathType = Union[str, Path]
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/kilosortbase.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/kilosortbase.py
index 0e185a4051..97886868c1 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/kilosortbase.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/kilosortbase.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript, get_matlab_shell_name, get_bash_path
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import get_job_kwargs
-from spikeinterface.extractors import KiloSortSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import KiloSortSortingExtractor
 from spikeinterface.core import write_binary_recording
 from spikeinterface.preprocessing.zero_channel_pad import TracePaddedRecording
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/klusta.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/klusta.py
index d96eb74789..b6602ba6e2 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/klusta.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/klusta.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from probeinterface import write_prb
 
 from spikeinterface.core import write_binary_recording
-from spikeinterface.extractors import KlustaSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import KlustaSortingExtractor
 
 
 class KlustaSorter(BaseSorter):
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort4.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort4.py
index d0b0f4f118..f79b29eb73 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort4.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort4.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from spikeinterface.preprocessing import bandpass_filter, whiten
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter
 from spikeinterface.core.old_api_utils import NewToOldRecording
-from spikeinterface.extractors import NpzSortingExtractor, NumpySorting
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import NpzSortingExtractor, NumpySorting
 
 
 class Mountainsort4Sorter(BaseSorter):
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort5.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort5.py
index 46fe021ad7..3c20010ab5 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort5.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/mountainsort5.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from spikeinterface.preprocessing import bandpass_filter, whiten
 from spikeinterface.core.baserecording import BaseRecording
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter, get_job_kwargs
-from spikeinterface.extractors import NpzSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import NpzSortingExtractor
 
 
 class Mountainsort5Sorter(BaseSorter):
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/pykilosort.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/pykilosort.py
index 76eb291c79..c5d8dddfb9 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/pykilosort.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/pykilosort.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import KiloSortSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import KiloSortSortingExtractor
 from spikeinterface.core import write_binary_recording
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter, get_job_kwargs
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/spyking_circus.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/spyking_circus.py
index c9236407f1..2df2c97be5 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/spyking_circus.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/spyking_circus.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from numpy.lib.format import open_memmap
 
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import SpykingCircusSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import SpykingCircusSortingExtractor
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/tridesclous.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/tridesclous.py
index 28596cc5b4..65aadd1d55 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/tridesclous.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/tridesclous.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import importlib.util
 from importlib.metadata import version
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import TridesclousSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import TridesclousSortingExtractor
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter, get_job_kwargs
 from spikeinterface.core import write_binary_recording
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus.py
index 90e3e5ef25..42561a2e4a 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript
 
 from spikeinterface.core import write_to_h5_dataset_format
-from spikeinterface.extractors import WaveClusSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import WaveClusSortingExtractor
 from spikeinterface.core.channelslice import ChannelSliceRecording
 
 PathType = Union[str, Path]
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus_snippets.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus_snippets.py
index 20d45b8c7f..3bd2c98a3c 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus_snippets.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/waveclus_snippets.py
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
 from spikeinterface.sorters.basesorter import BaseSorter
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import WaveClusSortingExtractor
-from spikeinterface.extractors import WaveClusSnippetsExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import WaveClusSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import WaveClusSnippetsExtractor
 
 PathType = Union[str, Path]
 
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/yass.py b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/yass.py
index 11ac4edd87..aabc8f77b4 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/yass.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sorters/external/yass.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from spikeinterface.sorters.utils import ShellScript
 
 from spikeinterface.core import write_binary_recording
-from spikeinterface.extractors import YassSortingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.extractor_classes import YassSortingExtractor
 
 
 class YassSorter(BaseSorter):
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_triage.py b/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_triage.py
index 93ebb564e1..009021c69a 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_triage.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_triage.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 from spikeinterface import download_dataset
 
-from spikeinterface.extractors import MEArecRecordingExtractor
+from spikeinterface.extractors.neoextractors import MEArecRecordingExtractor
 
 from spikeinterface.sortingcomponents.peak_detection import detect_peaks
 from spikeinterface.sortingcomponents.peak_localization import localize_peaks
diff --git a/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_waveforms/test_neural_network_denoiser.py b/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_waveforms/test_neural_network_denoiser.py
index 1823b0f438..6ae694c083 100644
--- a/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_waveforms/test_neural_network_denoiser.py
+++ b/src/spikeinterface/sortingcomponents/tests/test_waveforms/test_neural_network_denoiser.py
@@ -1,9 +1,3 @@
-import numpy as np
-import pytest
-
-from spikeinterface.extractors import MEArecRecordingExtractor
-from spikeinterface import download_dataset
-
 from spikeinterface.core.node_pipeline import run_node_pipeline, PeakRetriever, ExtractDenseWaveforms
 from spikeinterface.sortingcomponents.waveforms.neural_network_denoiser import SingleChannelToyDenoiser