Short answer: An SMD LED screen for a jalsa or rally has three jobs: show the speaker to the back of a large crowd, carry the event’s text and graphics, and keep working through the afternoon sun and the evening. The Absen MC outdoor stage panels are made for this kind of stage. They come in 3.9 mm and 5.9 mm pitch, with 3000 or 4000 nit brightness. For most rallies, the size is set by the farthest row, the pitch by the front row, and the stage structure and generator by the wind and the power you have on site.
This guide covers screen size for big crowds, brightness, pixel pitch, stage structure, generators, wind safety and a short setup plan.
How big should an SMD screen be for a jalsa or rally?
The screen must be tall enough for the farthest row to read the text. Our SMD screen size guide uses a simple rule: screen height for text is about the farthest viewing distance divided by 6.
| Farthest row | Screen height for text | Suggested pitch |
|---|---|---|
| 20 m | About 3.3 m | P3.9, if the front row is 4 m or more away |
| 40 m | About 6.7 m | P5.9, if the front row is 6 m or more away |
| 60 m or more | 10 m or more | Use large graphics and speaker close-ups. Keep text to short headlines. |
For very large crowds, text on a screen is hard to read from the back, even on a big screen. Plan the content around that. Show the speaker in close-up, big titles, and the event name, rather than long lines of Urdu text.
How bright should the screen be?
The MC Series comes in 3000 and 4000 nits. Choose by time of day:
- Daytime programmes: pick 4000 nits. Afternoon sun washes out dimmer screens.
- Evening and night programmes: 3000 nits is usually enough. A brighter screen at night can be harsh on people close to the stage.
Brightness is only one part of outdoor use. Check the IP rating and cooling as well. Our indoor vs outdoor SMD screen guide explains both.
Which pixel pitch suits a rally crowd?
Pitch decides how far away the screen still looks sharp. The pixel pitch guide gives the full table. The starting point is simple: the pitch in millimetres is about the minimum distance in metres to the nearest viewer.
- 3.9 mm: for a stage where the front row is 4 m or more away, or for a screen that people see up close, such as a backdrop behind the speaker.
- 5.9 mm: for open grounds where the front row is 6 m or more away. It costs less per square metre and is fine for large graphics and video.
How should the stage structure be planned?
The MC Series can be hung or ground stacked, and works with Layher scaffolding and steel truss, which are common stage structures. Each 500 × 1000 mm cabinet weighs 10.5 kg, which is about 21 kg per square metre of screen before the frame.
- Structure check: have a structural engineer confirm that the scaffold or truss can carry the screen weight. Do not hang a screen from a structure that was not designed for it.
- Shape: the horizontal locks allow curves from -5° to +10°. The 45° edge-cut cabinets make L-shaped screens for stage wings and towers.
- Mixed sizes: 500 × 500 mm and 500 × 1000 mm cabinets can be combined, so the screen can fit the stage instead of the other way round.
How much generator do you need?
Many jalsa screens run on a generator, because the mains supply can be weak or cut during the event. Work it out before the event:
- List everything on the same circuit: the screen power boxes, the controller, the media player, the sound system, lights and the cameras.
- Ask the supplier for the power rating of the screen for your exact cabinet count. Do not guess from the size.
- Add the rest of the load, and leave spare capacity. The generator must also handle the start-up surge of the equipment.
- Ask the generator supplier to confirm the rating in writing before the day.
For the units calculation and the UPS side of power, read SMD Screen Power Consumption.
How do you keep the screen safe in wind?
Wind is the biggest risk for an outdoor stage screen. The MC has dual vertical fast locks, which let one operator connect panels quickly and securely, but the locks are only part of the job.
- Engineer the structure for wind. The stage design, anchors and ballast must suit the open ground and the weather at the venue.
- Set a wind limit. Agree with the event team when the screen is switched off or the panels are lowered. Make one person responsible for watching the weather.
- Tie everything down. Check every cabinet lock, every tie point and the ground stack before the show starts, and again after each change.
- Keep cables off walkways. Loose cables cause trips in a crowd and can pull connectors apart.
Service is easier if the panels are built for it. The MC modules and power boxes are replaced from the rear, so a fault can be repaired during a show without taking the whole screen down.
How do you set up a jalsa screen in a short time?
- Survey the ground. Measure the distance to the farthest row, check the sun direction and the ground level.
- Get the drawings. Ask for the cabinet layout, the power figures and the structure plan before the equipment leaves the warehouse.
- Build the stage structure first. Get the frame level and checked before any panels go up.
- Hang or stack the panels. Use the fast locks and check each join.
- Connect power and data. Label every cable and power box.
- Test each panel. Run a test pattern and check for dead modules.
- Test the content at full brightness. Check it from the back of the crowd area, and in the camera feed if the event is filmed.
- Keep spares on site. Spare modules and power boxes are the fastest way to fix a problem during the show.
Who can help you plan a jalsa or rally screen?
Irfan Corporation, the authorised Absen distributor in Pakistan, can visit the venue, measure the crowd area, and suggest the size, pitch, stage structure and power plan for the organisers to review. Call 0331-5575501 or visit the contact page. For a similar event on a large stage, see our SMD screens for concerts case study.
Frequently asked questions
Divide the distance to the farthest row by 6 to get the screen height for text. A crowd 40 metres away needs a text height of about 6.7 metres.
It depends on the front row. 3.9 mm suits a front row 4 metres or more away, and 5.9 mm suits a front row 6 metres or more away.
For evening and night programmes, yes. For afternoon programmes in strong sun, choose 4000 nits.
Yes. Get the power rating for your exact cabinet count from the supplier, add the other equipment, and leave spare capacity for the start-up load.
Have a structural engineer check the stage, use the fast locks and tie points on every cabinet, set a wind limit with the event team, and keep cables off walkways.
The MC modules and power boxes are replaced from the rear. Keep spare modules and power boxes on site so a fault can be fixed quickly.
About this guide: Written by the Absen Pakistan team at Irfan Corporation, the authorised Absen distributor in Pakistan, with offices in Karachi and Islamabad. Product details come from Absen’s official specifications. Last updated: 2 November 2026.