Hi,
so, just to summarize a little:
- WAV is a Pulse-Code-Modulation, lossless, uncompressed scheme, with a proprietary format. The data part is identical to a "pure-signal" PCM bit-string
- therefore, it is an adequate format to memorize acoustic as well of vibration data
- problems can only arise if the analysis device is not aware to cut off the header and footer part of the file, and does not know anything about bit-string decoding (RSC, redundancy,...). As Cincibcats says, there is AT LEAST one brand of analysis equipment which can handle WAV format directly.
- DAT recorders, DASH recorders, Hard-Disk recorders, are all good candidates to record a vib signal for subsequent processing, because they work in UNCOMPRESSED format. OK, to be honest, HDR can record in any format... DAT recorders have super-compactness, DASH have extraordinary mechanical / magnetic properties (but they have very huge dimensions, making them improbable for field measurements!), HDR has incredible storage capacities BUT you must appropriately select the "audio" board (it must have a "pass-through", otherwise the circuitry will interprete the signal and irremediably "corrupt" it).
So, you see, everything is feasible, with only some "caveats" (and, as GregLocock says, NEVER NEVER NEVER use mp3 recorders, DCC recorders or MinidDisc recorders).
Regards