A system is provided for building a distributed network for essence management and access. The system includes a media asset recording system that generates high quality copies and proxy copies of a media asset and an essence database that stores these copies. Moreover, a first source index stores asset entries that correspond to each of the copies of the media asset, respectively, with the media asset entries including metadata for a resolution, a video codec and an audio codec information relating to each respective copy. Moreover, a media asset monitor dynamically updates the respective media asset entries upon the media asset recording system generating each copy of the media asset. The system also includes a media essence provider that accesses a copy of the media asset based on a media access request from a media request application on a client device that specifies required parameters for the media asset.