+7 717 264 08 69
KEG TRK — Поставка промышленных решений в Казахстане
Vibration Meter or Vibration Analyser: Which to Choose
ArticleOctober 10, 2026

Vibration Meter or Vibration Analyser: Which to Choose

A vibration meter shows the overall level and tells you if there is a problem. An analyser adds the spectrum and waveform and shows the cause. A comparison by task, function and example instruments.

ManufacturingMiningMetallurgyPower generationOil & gasSDT340 - Advanced Ultrasound Detectorvb7 — collector, analyzer and balancerSCOUT220-IS — intrinsically safe collector

A vibration meter measures the overall vibration level, usually RMS velocity in mm/s, and answers "is there a problem". A vibration analyser also records the time waveform and builds a spectrum, so it answers "what exactly is wrong". If you only need to compare machines with the limits, a meter is enough; if you need to find causes and plan repairs, you need an analyser.

What a vibration meter does

A meter gives one or a few numbers per measurement point:

  • RMS velocity in mm/s, the main parameter for ISO 10816-3 assessment (10–1000 Hz band);
  • sometimes RMS and peak acceleration in g, peak velocity and crest factor.

With these numbers you can compare a machine with the standard's zones A–D (tables in "Electric motor vibration limits per ISO 10816-3") and keep a trend: if the level at the same point grows from reading to reading, the machine needs a closer look.

What a meter will not show is the frequency at which the vibration is concentrated. The same 4 mm/s can come from unbalance, misalignment, looseness or resonance, and the repair is different in each case.

What a vibration analyser does

Besides the overall level, an analyser works with the signal:

  • Spectrum (FFT) shows peaks at running speed 1x, at 2x, at harmonics and at bearing frequencies. It separates unbalance from misalignment and looseness. How to read it: "How to read an FFT spectrum".
  • Time waveform: a non-sinusoidal shape points to looseness, impacts point to bearing and gear defects.
  • Envelope (demodulation) isolates weak repeating impacts and helps find early bearing defects.
  • Phase and multiple channels help separate unbalance from misalignment, perform field balancing and run bump tests to find resonances.
  • Routes and database: points, reading history, trends and alarms in PC software.

I-care divides portable instruments into data collectors for routine rounds and analysers with onboard processing that show the spectrum and waveform at the machine. Modern instruments usually combine both.

Equipment covered in this article

Comparison

Vibration meter Vibration analyser
Main question Is there a problem What is wrong
Output Overall level (mm/s, g) Overall level, spectrum, time waveform, envelope
ISO 10816-3 assessment Yes, if it measures RMS velocity in 10–1000 Hz Yes
Finding the cause No Yes
Field balancing No In models with a balancing function
Routes and trends in software Usually none or limited Yes
Who uses it Mechanic, operator, rounds technician Condition monitoring specialist

Example instruments

Instrument What it is Key manufacturer data
SDT340 (SDT) Ultrasound instrument with a vibration channel Indicators: RMS and peak velocity, RMS and peak acceleration, crest factor. Filters 5 Hz – 1 kHz, 10 Hz – 1 kHz (ISO 10816-3), 10 Hz – 10 kHz. On-screen time waveform and spectrum, on-route and off-route modes
vb7 (Bently Nevada) Data collector, analyser and balancer 2 simultaneous channels, up to 6,400 lines, Fmax up to 40 kHz, demodulation, two-plane balancing, bump test, laser speed sensor
SCOUT220-IS (Bently Nevada) Intrinsically safe data collector and analyser 2 channels (SCOUT240-IS: 4), up to 12,800 lines, Fmax up to 80 kHz, two-plane balancing, routes from System 1 software

How to choose

  1. You only need limit checks and overall trends on a small number of machines: an instrument with RMS velocity in the 10–1000 Hz band is enough. The SDT340 covers this and also gives ultrasound checks of bearings, leaks and electrical equipment.
  2. You need to find causes, run routes and balance in the field: you need an analyser with spectrum, envelope and phase, such as the vb7.
  3. Work in hazardous areas (oil and gas, chemicals): you need an instrument with the right certification, such as the SCOUT220-IS.
  4. Critical or hard-to-reach machines: instead of a portable instrument consider online sensors: "Wi-care wireless vibration monitoring".

The instrument is only part of a programme. What else you need to start is in "What is machinery vibration analysis", and how to find the cause of motor vibration from the spectrum is in "Causes of electric motor vibration".

Which instrument to choose

For rounds with limit checks and ultrasound bearing inspection: the SDT340. For full spectrum analysis and balancing: the Bently Nevada vb7.

KEG TRK supplies SDT and Bently Nevada instruments in Kazakhstan and trains personnel. Price on request.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Equipment in this article

KEG TRK quotes prices and delivery times to Kazakhstan on request. We will prepare a commercial offer for your application.

Also in this article: SCOUT220-IS — intrinsically safe collector

Read also

10/10/2026

What Is Machinery Vibration Analysis and How to Start

Vibration analysis checks machine condition from bearing housing vibration: what is measured, route-based vs online monitoring, which faults show in the spectrum, how to start.

10/10/2026

Causes of Electric Motor Vibration and How to Tell Them Apart

Unbalance, misalignment, looseness, bearings, resonance, rotor and stator faults, driven machine problems. Which spectrum and waveform signs separate one cause from another.

10/10/2026

Electric Motor Diagnostics: Which Method Shows What

Vibration, ultrasound, thermography, current analysis (MCSA/ESA), motor circuit analysis (MCA), megohmmeter and oil analysis: which faults each method sees, where it stops and how to combine them.

Back to articles