Avicii - Without You: How to create the textured sound of this synth @ 5:33?

That might be bit crushing in part, or maybe even some form of regular distortion. The problem is that the line that is being played doesn't go into the mid-range so it's hard to hear some of the characteristics of the sound. It definitely has some modulation, either LFO or vibrato on it. The really high part kind of "squeals", and the low part "farts", haha. That is the modulation. I would also take an educated guess and say that there is a VCF of some kind. If you aren't familiar, it stands for "Voltage controlled filter". I'm somewhat new to the concept, but basically A VCF is a type of filter that is created using electrical voltage and produces some of that very raspy and thick "bit-crush" sound. I would check that out, and if you have any soft-synths that you use, definitely look at the lead presets that are on there.

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