No tutorial is helping me

yes, it's possible, but it's very very difficult to do to make it sound like real strings.  it takes a lot of work and practice and it might not ever sound as good as real strings.  also, the tools that come with MC probably won't ever sound like real strings, but you can start practicing on them.

what have you learned about using softsynths so far?  can you insert a softsynth?  can you use the Piano Roll View?

My suggestion is to slow down and actually do some study and research. If you have been at it for four month and still know nothing you are going about it wrong. To start with take the time and expense to buy a book on midi and synths, and even Sonar. Get one of Scott Garragus' books. Read practice, ask detailed and focused questions. Rather than "i can't make this work!" Ask something we can answer like how to add a synth in the synth rack, what to do to play drums on a keyboard. How do I .... and be very specific.


How long until Scott shows up?   hhhmmm?

Ok, you want my system hardware? I am not sure how to get to it. As you can tell, I am not that computer savvy. Can you give me some pointers to find out my system info,  guitar hacker?

What I am trying to accomplish is to be able to write my own music without having to use my own instruments. I want to be able to sit and put in the instruments I want without having to know how to use them. I am good with strings on my piano, but I don't want to have to record each set and then pull them into the program...but wait, isn't that how an actual recording studio works? You take each track, put them in and then mix them together,or do they record it all at once? I personally have been to three studios, and I have only seen them doing all the instruments all at once.

I am good with strings on my piano, but I don't want to have to record each set and then pull them into the program...but wait, isn't that how an actual recording studio works? You take each track, put them in and then mix them together,or do they record it all at once? I personally have been to three studios, and I have only seen them doing all the instruments all at once.

 
Is it a MIDI piano? You won't have to record them (presumably on the keyboard's recorder) and "pull them in". Just record them in MC.
Some bands record all at once, live, and then do overdubs, add more vocals, lead instruments, etc., and others like to record them one at a time.
Being a one-man-band, I have no choice but to record them one at a time. :-)

I would like to also offer this, when you tell us you know nothing about computers but want to learn to record on one, that tells me that you are not that dedicated to this. I am not mocking you, but trying to give you a bigger picture. If you wanted to become a world class race car driver it would be very advantageous to have at least a working knowledge of your car.

If you own a computer at least know what processor speed it runs at, what type of chip is on the mother board, how much ram is in it. What kind of sound card you have. What the operating system is. All this is important, cause you need to know the minimum specs when you purchase software so that you do not buy things that are totally incompatible.

With your level of knowledge i would suggest going over to sony's acidplanet website, and download the acid express, and then download a floder full of free acidized loops from the net. Then learn to put together loop based tunes, get a feel for putting sounds together. how to string drums and guitar, bass, pianos, strings, synths. Then start to learn midi and add that to it. Then learn to add softsynths to the midi and soon the whole world opens up to you.

This is exactly how i started to learn, and it was great information. I actually learned to make full songs by using preexisting loops and also to make my own and add those in. Once that was possible, i learned to record straight out on MC. So far i can record a pretty good tune without poking my eye out!