I'll try to include all information. I don't think this is an issue with my computer as I've seen others talking about it. My issue is that all I have in my composition is a clip and some music. It. Is. Slow. Premiere pro works just fine with 4k clips, effects, etc.

I want to make a short 30 second edit for which after effects is the best option. "Edit in premiere pro and export composition to edit in after effects" I've heard this before, but that's not the issue here.

I shouldn't need a quantum computer to scrub through 1080p footage in a professional software used for much more complex things.

Not to come off as aggressive with that last sentence, it's just that's what someone recommended last time and it was pretty dumb.

Specs/Info:

Software: AE 2024
OS: Windows 10 64 bit
SSD: 256 gig (plenty of space left. this is what AE is run on)
HDD: 2tb. (where my files are kept.)
CPU: ryzen 5 3600
GPU: 3070ti
RAM: 32gb 3600Mhz (double the recommended)
PSU: 650W Gold (not that it matters)

My footage is in 1080p. The composition is 20 minutes as I wanted some free space to get rid of later, but that's not how long the footage is. The footage is less than a minute. As is the song on the bottom.

Thanks for any answers I really do appreciate them.

EDIT: What I mean by "slow" is that it won't play at all in preview. Even at a quarter quality. I can click play, it will take a few seconds, then play a choppy version where the audio will get slowed down at times to catch up with the footage. Since the issue isn't my computer, I'm assuming it's after effects. And if it's a software problem there has to be a solution, otherwise no one would ever use after effects.