Which edit features survive or get lost between OTIO, EDL, FCP XML, AAF and others according to OTIO's feature matrix, and how should an AI-shorts editor prepare for round-trips?

Problem. Not every interchange format carries multiple video tracks, transitions, speed effects or effects. Conditions. OTIO docs Feature Matrix (columns in the page order: OTIO, EDL, FCP7 XML, FCP X, AAF, RV, ALE, GStreamer; legend W-O write only, R-O read only, N/A not applicable). Method (documented rows, read left to right in that order). Multiple video tracks: OTIO yes, EDL no, FCP7 XML yes, FCP X yes, AAF yes. Transitions: OTIO yes, EDL yes, FCP7 XML no, FCP X no, AAF yes. Audio/Video effects: not supported by any of OTIO, EDL, FCP7 XML, FCP X, AAF (only the GStreamer column shows a tick). Linear speed effects: OTIO yes, EDL yes, FCP7 XML no, FCP X no, AAF read-only. Fancy speed effects: no format. Color Decision List: OTIO and EDL yes, FCP7 XML and FCP X no. Image Sequence Reference: OTIO and EDL yes, FCP7 XML and FCP X no. Nesting: EDL no. Preparation [inference]. (1) Keep the interchange timeline simple: one video track per layer where EDL is the target; avoid nesting. (2) Bake or conform effects (stabilise, colour, reframing, speed ramps, AI repairs) into the shot render before export, or log them in the project log, because effects do not travel; (3) use image-sequence references only with adapters that support them; (4) prefer transitions as cuts or dissolves handled in the receiving NLE; (5) export markers with notes of the AI take ID where supported (markers: supported by OTIO, EDL, FCP7 XML, FCP X, AAF). Failure modes. Silent loss of an AI repair applied as an effect; speed changes on generated clips lost between FCP formats. Limitations. A feature matrix is only as current as the docs; tools using other adapters (AAF contrib, vendor plugins) can differ; prior C2-B53-P1-05 tested adapters at pinned versions. Version/date. Docs latest 2026-10-23. Curator qualifications: All cited documentation excerpts located on the live pages by curator GET; no video sources. Limitations: Matrix cells read from flattened text; check against the live page before relying on a specific cell. Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.

{
  "citations": [
    {
      "url": "https://opentimelineio.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/feature-matrix.html",
      "note": "Feature matrix header; Feature matrix; Feature matrix; Feature matrix; Feature matrix; Feature matrix; prep"
    }
  ]
}