I'd say don't aim to replace. Keep working with your lovely D-50 and add a midi controller that covers your needs.

 

I have a Yamaha SY85 and a MPK249 They do not compare. The Fatar keys in the SY85 are far superior. That being said, I will say the AKAI is a great keyboard and very happy with it. The drum pads on the Akai MPK are simply some of the best out there.

As suggested get a controller with pads on it and sliders / fader's to use with the D-50

 

I had a new MPK49, that I gave a buddy who needed a controller when they moved overseas.
I found it to have good feel, but no D-50. However, all the MIDI features are so practical.
My best advice is to go into your local music instrument superstore, after sitting with your D-50 for a while, and compare several controllers including the AKAI you're deciding on.

Good Luck!

 

Last edited: Feb 15, 2016

Thanks to everyone for there input. I greatly appreciate it. The reason I was thinking about the AKAI MPK261 is because of the overall control.
Drums Pads, Daw control, CC and everything. I am also having a problem finding one at a store locally. That is why I was asking you pro Keyboard guys.

 

Last edited: Feb 15, 2016

I have a S90 Es as my weighted keyboard. It is great for Piano but not for playing synth stuff. I can totaly agree Yamaha make some great feeling
keyboards. How would you say the feel of the MPK49 is to the D-50 stiffer and weight wise to the semi weighted key on the D-50.
Have some difficulty locating one locally. Also MF is having a sale 15 % off till today so I was hoping on purchasing one with them.

 

You should define what you like the keys to feel like

- piano like
- rhodes like
- hammond like
...fast, slow, bouncy, easy to glide on, rounded ends, high or low, light or heavy, resistance to push, and so on...

 

Rhodes sorry if it were a Guitar I could explain it in detail but it's a keyboard.
I can say I like the D-50 or would like to get as close as possible to it, if I can.
Some have said the Akai is very close to a D-10 or D-20 I remember playing one in a store a while back.
I think I can live with that feel as my controller.

The D-50 to me is not cheap feeling to me it has some weight to it, not as per the S90 but some weight. Just enough to feel some friction to the keys. Or should I say it takes some effort to push the keys down to make a sound not like a Very cheap keyboard.

 

Would adding a small, keyless midi-controller (with knobs and/or faders) to your D-50 solve your issue?

 

I added an Akai LPD8 to it already and it has made a great addition to it. Of course I had to mod the pads since they were not as sensitive as they should have been. I thought it would be great to have and all on one solution also.. Also I can control the DAW with this keyboard

 

I pulled the trigger and ordered it today. I wanted again to thank everyone for there input on this. I will follow up in a week or two to let you everyone know how Ike it.