GOOD NEWS:

Electronic build and firmware tweaking is about done. I'm running about 4 regular selectable modes plus the sonic trigger and sleep.

Mode 1: All LEDS ramp Pulse (not flash) at about once per sec.

Mode 2: Centre LED on fast pulse, perimeter LEDS on slow.

Mode 3: Staccato pulsing on all LEDS => stuttering energy look.

Mode 4: Smooth pulsing ...random patterns.

Mode 5: Robust Sonic Trigger with AGC.

Sleep mode - can take place while any of the above modes are running. Wake from sleep continues last mode.

Using Red Piranhas onhand. (1.8Vf)...so War Machine! Can swap them to white (3.2Vf), no biggie. Current mirror tech in action. So LED Vf not that critical.

I am making one resistor optional....toggles LED current from 20 to 30mA. About 10% brighter but 33% more power cost = less run time.

Tuned the sonic triggers to respond to PARTY decibel levels. It will trigger with a nearby (inches) clap or finger snap.

The sonic mode will give you a 3/4 sec blinky sequence every 8 seconds if it doesn't hear anything. This is the most power economical mode. Could stay this way for many hours.

Estimated lifetime of the 700+mA Li Ion is prob 7 hours or so. Triple that in sonic 'quiet' mode.

The sleep mode is awesome... 0.8 mA .... Well, that's like over a month on a full charge!.

Time to start the housing and bezel bits. Might do a 'raw' video showing the electronics in action though.