Dave,
That price on the Venom at Amazon looks like one of those small windows of opportunity that pop up from time to time.
If that unit appeals to you, snag it now. The window will close very quickly. The Venom has apparently been discontinued, and you may not get another chance.
If I had $200 to play with right now, I would be very tempted.
Check this out from the Sweetwater site:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Venom/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=keyboards&utm_term=m-audio_venom&adpos=1t1&creative=14165814241&gclid=CIO916KJ-7QCFSaRPAodRi8A-g That said, I chose to go with a solid controller a few years back. My Edirol PCR-M50(No longer available)has served me well for several years. The Cakewalk/Roland A-Pro 500 is a descendant of that unit.
I have also built up a collection of soft synths that ca be played with the controller. Versatility beyond huge.
I record my synth tracks live, but in the confines of my bedroom studio environment.
This works well for my personal scenario, and playing live gigs is not really a consideration for me.
If I were in your shoes, I would:
1. Grab the Venom. This is too cool of a unit to pass up.
2. Plan on getting the Keyrig or a comparable unit in the future.
3. Start investing in good soft synths. Watch the Software Form. The guys there post notices on killer deals all the time. If you see an interesting group buy, get in on it.
4. Keep it fun, and don't forget to buy your significant other a box of chocolates.