diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index ad66548..9f44834 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
     "json": "9.0.4",
     "minilog": "^3.0.1",
     "soundfont-player": "0.10.5",
-    "tone": "0.8.0",
+    "tone": "0.9.0",
     "travis-after-all": "1.4.4",
     "webpack": "1.13.2"
   },
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index db9b645..67ea9ed 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ function AudioEngine () {
 
     // a map of md5s to audio buffers, holding sounds for all sprites
     this.audioBuffers = {};
+
+    // microphone, for measuring loudness, with a level meter analyzer
+    this.mic = null;
+    this.micMeter = null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -152,6 +156,25 @@ AudioEngine.prototype.changeTempo = function (value) {
     this.setTempo(this.currentTempo  + value);
 };
 
+/**
+ * Get the current loudness of sound received by the microphone.
+ * Sound is measured in RMS and smoothed.
+ * @return {number} loudness scaled 0 to 100
+ */
+AudioEngine.prototype.getLoudness = function () {
+    if (!this.mic) {
+        this.mic = new Tone.UserMedia();
+        this.micMeter = new Tone.Meter('level', 0.5);
+        this.mic.open();
+        this.mic.connect(this.micMeter);
+    }
+    if (this.mic && this.mic.state == 'started') {
+        return this.micMeter.value * 100;
+    } else {
+        return -1;
+    }
+};
+
 /**
  * Names of the audio effects.
  * @readonly