Systems and methods for interfacing media components are disclosed. Information about the capabilities of digital media components registered with the system is stored in a capabilities register. In addition, a profile register that contains information about specific capabilities required to perform specific tasks is developed. An application that requires digital media services can select one or more profiles representative of the required service from the profile register. The profile can be mapped onto the capabilities register to locate one or more digital media components registered with system capable of performing operations required to provide the digital media services. The components can be instantiated and connected to build a device capable of providing the requested digital media service. Also disclosed is an Application Programming Interface (API) that enables applications to interface with digital media components from disparate third-party vendors.