AVAudioRecorder/AVAudioPlayer not able to open previously saved file - ios

Question

I can successfully record audio using AVAudioRecorder. I can successfully play this recording using AVAudioPlayer.
This is saved to the documents folder:
FileManager.default.urls(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask)
However, when i try to re-open this file (to either record over it or play it back) i am unable to do so. I get recording state or player state to return false.
An example of the file name/URL:
file:///var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/30025787-C4F5-4F23-A345-C38EE44A180B/Documents/E678B939-730D-40D8-84EC-DE79FE4BDE3D.m4a
Note that i try to re-open the file like this:
self.audioRecorder = try AVAudioRecorder(url: self.recordedFileURL!, settings: settings)
self.audioRecorder.delegate = self
self.audioRecorder.isMeteringEnabled = true
let prepared = self.audioRecorder.prepareToRecord()
print("prepared to record = \(prepared)") // this returns FALSE when i am trying to re-open. But returns TRUE when i record for the first time.
When i try to open the file with the AVAudioPlayer i get error:
The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error 2003334207.)
The code to open the file using the saved URL is this:
if (self.recordedFileURL != nil) {
do {
self.audioPlayer = try AVAudioPlayer(contentsOf: self.recordedFileURL!)
self.audioPlayer.delegate = self
self.audioPlayer.volume = 1.0
self.audioPlayer.prepareToPlay()
}
catch let error {
print("Play audio error: " + error.localizedDescription)
}
}
* Updated *
I am beginning to think the file is actually not saved in the documents folder. I see this error in the output window:
fatal error: unexpectedly found nil while unwrapping an Optional value
2016-11-07 09:38:28.177535 fatal error: unexpectedly found nil while unwrapping an Optional value
How to verify this file exists in the documents folder?
* Updated *
I suspect I am saving the file to a temporary location. I will need to investigate in this direction once I get home. Here is a reference.
* updated 2 *
I found a better more precise reference here.
* RESOLVED *
I believe there were a couple (2) issues.
1) I made sure that I'm not using the path name of a file that already exists. If I use an existing path (which is the path to a recorded audio) to initialize the Recorder, it will override whatever audio was recorded. I had to make sure to use a separate/unique path for any new recording.
2) I had to ensure that I am working with the right URL paths. I found out that I wasn't consistent with this. In short, use the absolute string path, and use that consistently everywhere (reading & reading).