Unity-Technologies/UnityCsReference · error · ArgumentNullException

clip

Error message

clip

What it means

ArgumentNullException thrown by the ClipPreviewDetails constructor when the clip parameter is null. This is the first null guard in the constructor, ensuring a valid AudioClip is provided before accessing its properties and generating a min/max overview.

Source

Thrown at Editor/Mono/Audio/StreamedAudioClipPreview.cs:64

            public AudioClip clip;
            public int previewPixelsToRender;
            public double localStart;
            public double localLength;
            public bool looping;

            public ClipPreviewDetails(AudioClip clip, bool isLooping, int size, double localStart, double localLength)
            {
                if (size < 2)
                    throw new ArgumentException("Size has to be larger than 1");

                if (localLength <= 0)
                    throw new ArgumentException("length has to be longer than zero", "localLength");

                if (localStart < 0)
                    throw new ArgumentException("localStart has to be positive", "localStart");

                if (clip == null)
                    throw new ArgumentNullException("clip");

                this.clip = clip;

                preview = AudioClipMinMaxOverview.GetOverviewFor(clip);

                if (preview == null)
                    throw new ArgumentException("Clip " + clip + "'s overview preview is null");

                looping = isLooping;

                this.localStart = localStart;
                this.localLength = localLength;

                if (looping)
                {
                    previewPixelsToRender = size;
                }
                else

View on GitHub (pinned to 225b0fbdb5)

Solutions

1. Null-check the clip before constructing ClipPreviewDetails.
2. Skip preview rendering for elements or slots where the AudioClip is unassigned.
3. Guard with: if (clip == null) return; before the constructor call.
4. Ensure container elements have valid clips assigned before attempting preview rendering.

Example fix

// before
var details = new ClipPreviewDetails(clip, looping, size, start, length);
// after
if (clip == null) return;
var details = new ClipPreviewDetails(clip, looping, size, start, length);

// Null-check clip before constructing ClipPreviewDetails
if (clip == null) return;
var details = new ClipPreviewDetails(clip, looping, size, localStart, localLength);

static bool HasValidClip(AudioClip clip) => clip != null;

When it happens

Trigger: Constructing ClipPreviewDetails with clip=null. Occurs when a preview is requested for an unassigned AudioClip slot, when a SerializedProperty referencing a clip is empty, or when a container element's audioClip field has not been set.

Common situations: AudioRandomContainer elements with no clip assigned, inspector preview rendering before a clip is dragged in, scripted operations iterating over elements where some have null clips, asset import failures leaving clip references unset.

Related errors

• Size has to be larger than 1
• length has to be longer than zero
• localStart has to be positive
• Clip {clip}'s overview preview is null
• clips

AI-assisted analysis of Unity-Technologies/UnityCsReference@225b0fbdb5 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/2de9b0a5f7d9ea05. Report an issue: GitHub.