If it were me, for a purpose like this, I would buy an Arduino-type board, put a MIDI adapter on it (such as MIDI FeatherWing), and ask ChatGPT for the code to (as an example) "send program change 5 on channel 1 whenever Arduino pin 12 gets connected to ground".? Then you're not dealing with relying on Windows to stay running, or computers that need updating or rebooting.? Arduinos boot in milliseconds, basically the instant they get power.? Their biggest downside is needing to fashion an appropriate enclosure (though, mounting them with magnets and standoffs inside a metal cabinet often works in a pinch!).
I have gotten some amazing results mixing Arduinos with Crestron.? Crestron can easily signal them via contact closure, or via RS232.
I understand if messing with Arduino it's not your cup of tea.? But being built from automotive microcontrollers, Arduinos tend to be bulletproof when used for the right application (especially so when compared to leaving a Windows program running to do an automation job).
