diff --git a/packaging/macos/Info.plist.in b/packaging/macos/Info.plist.in
index 78958249e..e9d9dc3bc 100644
--- a/packaging/macos/Info.plist.in
+++ b/packaging/macos/Info.plist.in
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
   <true/>
   <key>NSRequiresAquaSystemAppearance</key>
   <false/>
+  <!-- Voice-over recording (timeline track header ▸ Voice-over Record) reads the microphone.
+       Without this string macOS never asks and the app gets no input. -->
+  <key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key>
+  <string>FilmCraft uses the microphone to record voice-over onto the timeline.</string>
   <key>NSHumanReadableCopyright</key>
   <string>Copyright © the FilmCraft authors. MIT OR Apache-2.0.</string>
 
diff --git a/packaging/macos/entitlements.plist b/packaging/macos/entitlements.plist
index 79fa2237b..74540670f 100644
--- a/packaging/macos/entitlements.plist
+++ b/packaging/macos/entitlements.plist
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
-<!-- Hardened-runtime entitlements for Filmcraft. Deliberately empty: the app is pure Rust,
+<!-- Hardened-runtime entitlements for Filmcraft. Deliberately minimal: the app is pure Rust,
      loads no unsigned code, needs no JIT, and is not sandboxed (it opens files by path, from the
      command line and drag-and-drop). Add exceptions here only with a reason in a comment. -->
 <plist version="1.0">
 <dict>
+  <!-- Voice-over recording reads the microphone; the hardened runtime blocks audio input without
+       this (Info.plist.in carries the matching NSMicrophoneUsageDescription). -->
+  <key>com.apple.security.device.audio-input</key>
+  <true/>
 </dict>
 </plist>
diff --git a/xtask/src/main.rs b/xtask/src/main.rs
index 631678d84..648f217b0 100644
--- a/xtask/src/main.rs
+++ b/xtask/src/main.rs
@@ -504,3 +504,24 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
         }
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::path::Path;
+
+    fn macos_packaging(file: &str) -> String {
+        let path = Path::new(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR")).join("../packaging/macos").join(file);
+        std::fs::read_to_string(&path).unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("{}: {e}", path.display()))
+    }
+
+    /// Voice-over recording needs both halves on macOS: the usage string (else the permission
+    /// prompt never appears) and the hardened-runtime audio-input entitlement (else the input is
+    /// blocked). Regression test for #659.
+    #[test]
+    fn macos_bundle_may_use_the_microphone() {
+        let plist = macos_packaging("Info.plist.in");
+        assert!(plist.contains("<key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key>"));
+        let entitlements = macos_packaging("entitlements.plist");
+        assert!(entitlements.contains("<key>com.apple.security.device.audio-input</key>\n  <true/>"));
+    }
+}