Update: April 30, 2013:

The Curious Violet blog (http://i.am.curiousviolet.jp) is up and is being updated regularly. 

The Story of the AudioChroma:

I've always liked the idea of LED-based votive candles. The first time I saw them was at an upscale steak restaurant, where blue LED candles served as soft "mood lights" for each table. However, when I tried to buy them myself, I quickly discovered problems with every electronic candle on the market: weak lights, cheap and ugly designs, insufficient battery life, unnatural-looking effects or unappealing light color. It seemed that the LED votive candle I was seeking did not exist.

So, I decided to make it instead.

What Makes the AudioChroma Great:

My search for the perfect LED votive candle led me to ponder what qualities it would need to possess. I’m proud to declare that the AudioChroma has all of them:

Two high-brightness, full-color LEDs provide powerful illumination, in any color desired.

Its dimensions are the same as a votive candle ("tea-light"), so it can be used in any home decoration or candle holder.

The candle itself is well-made and attractive, in a glossy white polycarbonate shell. The "flame" on top of the candle is molded from translucent plastic designed for optimal light diffusion.

An internal, rechargeable battery allows the AudioChroma to run all night (approximately 8 hours on a single charge) without ever needing to buy batteries.

An internal microcontroller generates lighting patterns and color combinations to suit any mood or scene. 

At this point you might be wondering "Why is it called AudioChroma when it's just an electronic candle? What does that have to do with audio?" Well, I saved the most interesting feature for last:

The "Audio" in AudioChroma:

An omnidirectional microphone underneath the top of the candle shell allows the candle to react to music playing nearby. Color fades and transitions are synchronized with the tempo of the music. Lights pulse and flash in response to dynamic events (like snare drums or cymbal hits), Colors change along with frequencies of notes being played. In essence, the AudioChroma is a miniature personal light show for you to enjoy anywhere. It also makes a great addition to the decor of bars, restaurants or nightclubs – anywhere that music is played and enjoyed. (Naturally, this feature can be turned off if desired.)

Making the AudioChroma a Reality:

What's already done?

We have been hard at work on the AudioChroma for almost a year now, and most of the work is finished. At the moment, we have working prototypes of the hardware and the microcontroller firmware. We also have 3D CAD models of the plastic parts that make up the AudioChroma's shell. However, in order to go from prototype to finished product, we need:

Injection Molded Plastic

We are going to need to create injection molds for the plastic shells, and another mold for the light-diffusing "candle flame." This alone will cost upwards of $15,000. This process sometimes requires revisions and corrections, which can drive up costs.

Electronics

While every effort has been made to keep the AudioChroma relatively low-cost, electronic components benefit hugely from economies of scale: that is to say, the AudioChroma can only be made affordably in large (1000+) quantities. Additionally, manufacturing and assembling the printed circuit boards incurs significant initial costs ("non-recurring expenses"). All told, components, PCBs and assembly will cost at least $10,000 for the first run of units.

Quality Control

LEDs, like any other electronic component, have some variation between batches of parts. In order to ensure light-color consistency, the AudioChroma will need to be calibrated before leaving the factory. Although the calibration procedure is simple, it will require specialized test fixtures to be built at an approximate cost of $5000.

Getting an AudioChroma:

By contributing to our IndieGoGo campaign, you can get an AudioChroma (or several) before anyone else on the planet. We are also making "limited edition" models and other special rewards for larger contributions.

$30~50 Donation

The "standard" colors for the AudioChroma are Simplice (white) and Placido (black). A donation of $30 will get you one of these in whichever color you prefer.

$50~75 Donation

 In addition to the standard black and white colors, the AudioChroma is being offered in three special colors: Nobilmente (silver), Grandioso (champagne gold), and Appassionato (rose gold). Only 1000 of these will be produced, so don't miss your chance to get one!

The Limited Editions

$75~100 Donation

The first of our "limited edition" AudioChromas is the "Curious Violet" color, commemorating our first product release. In addition to the attractive deep-purple gloss color, it comes with the Curious Violet logo inscribed on the base. Only 250 numbered units will ever be made.

$150~200 Donation:

You get your choice of any of the standard colors (black, white, champagne, silver, rose-gold) with your name, a message, or anything else that can be represented in black-and-white inscribed on the bottom side of the candle!

$200~$500 Donation:

The most limited of the limited editions, the Maestoso is a gorgeous duo-tone version of the AudioChroma, with a mirror-finish black top, and a brushed-aluminum bottom. Only 100 of these will be produced, and as with the previous perk, you can get anything you want engraved on the bottom side of the candle.

$500+ Donation:

Not only will you receive one of the final production models in your choice of colors, you will also get one of the beta units when they're ready to go. This means that we will incorporate your feedback into the final firmware, and what's more, you'll get access to the color-pattern and audio-response software, with a reprogrammable AudioChroma that you can customize to your heart's desire!