Using a .diff file in plain language

[Kaiku]

I guys, I downloaded  a patch (in diff format)   that maintains vocal quality even when increasing the pitch (I listen to a lot of audiobooks so this is a very nice feature).  but when I looked at the instructions for how to install it,  I was overwhelmed:

http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/WorkingWithPatches

Applying A Patch

Applying a 'patch' (output from diff -u) is done with the 'patch' tool inside the Bash Shell (i.e.Cygwin). It is best to put the patch files in the same directory as the source code and will make it easier for you when you have to apply them.
  cd to/source/root
  patch < patchfile
patch knows that the patchfile is a set of changes on one or more files, and will do those to your local files. If your files have changed too much for the patch to work, it will save the sections of the patch that aren't possible to apply in a file called "filename.rej" (filename being the name of the file for which the failing section was intended for). Then you must take care of them manually.
If there is path information in the patchfile that you want to cut off from the left, tell patch how many directory levels to cut off to find the names in your file system:
  patch -p0 < patchfile
  patch -p1 < patchfile
  patch -p2 < patchfile
... each example line removes one extra level of dir info from the left.
You can use the --dry-run option to patch to make sure that the patch applies clean. It doesn't actually apply the patch, only prints what would happen if you run it.

I'm decently handy with the computer but this kind of installation instruction is over my head. Can someone tell me in simple terms what to do?  I would really appreciate it, thanks.  I run Windows 8 Pro  on my main computer and am using a Sansa clip zip MP3 player with Rockbox.

[bluebrother]

This is not an installation. This is software development. A diff file is changes to the source code. You need to get the Rockbox source code, setup a build system and compile Rockbox yourself. You need to do this on a Linux machine, virtual machine or using Cygwin. Since most people have moved to Linux or VMs the Cygwin information are likely to be rather out of date though.

[saratoga]

I guys, I downloaded  a patch (in diff format)   that maintains vocal quality even when increasing the pitch (I listen to a lot of audiobooks so this is a very nice feature). 

I'm not sure what patch you're referring to, but rockbox has supported this feature for many years.  Most likely whatever patch you're referring to either does not actually do that or has not been relevant to this project for a very long. 

[Kaiku]

Thanks, I have now enabled timestretch but it defaults back to the default setting every time the Zip powers down. Is there any way to maintain the setting?

[saratoga]

Manual says no, so I guess not.

[cereal_killer]

I am not sure if you have seen this patch, but I think this would do what you want.

[redblade8]

You could also use a bookmark as well to save where you left off + the speed/pitch settings. From the menu where a song is playing, hold the 'select' button (on my e200 it's the middle button) until you get to the 'context menu' and then select 'bookmarks', and 'create bookmark.' Maybe there is an option to automatically resume last created bookmark after boot? I'm not sure. But using bookmarks is also an option for you to use.