The primary purpose of a microphone windscreen is to minimize wind noise in audio recordings. Wind noise isn’t just the sound of air moving, but rather the result of air turbulence and pressure changes interacting with the microphone’s sensitive diaphragm, which can cause low-frequency rumbling, thumping, or distortion that makes the desired audio unusable. Windscreens create a buffer between the wind and the microphone, diffusing the air and minimizing its impact on the diaphragm, therefore essential for achieving clear and high-quality sound recordings.