I'm having a lot of trouble setting up a very basic project

[mertzcorre]

So I'm trying to make a very basic midi controller. I've thought the project to be done so many times I've lost count. Using a Raspberry Pi Pico, I want to use a single rotary encoder for midi output. I have tried to set up the device with different pin layouts, cores, code, usb cables, usb ports, device drivers, and more that I can't even recall. The furthest I've gotten is a midi device that doesn't produce any signal outputs to my pc, and now I'm stuck again with a device that won't even show up in my device manager outside of bootselect mode. Whatever I do, it seems like there are more compatibility issues. Maybe my code is inherently bad, maybe it's a driver issue. I don't even know what questions to ask. I'm just so exhausted from this endeavor.

Code:

#define Control_Surface_Hardware_USBMIDI

#include <Control_Surface.h>

CCRotaryEncoder encoder {
{18,19},
MIDI_CC::Pan,
1,
};

void setup() {
// put your setup code here, to run once:
RelativeCCSender::setMode(relativeCCmode::TWOS_COMPLEMENT);

Control_Surface.begin();

}

void loop() {
// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
Control_Surface.loop();
}