The method I am most familiar with is drawing aether into a crystal, usually aspected aether. Airships upon my star utilize wind-aspected crystals, as an example. The crystal itself channel the aether.

[ He and Cid have spoken a great deal about why the people of Dion's star use their bodies to channel aether. G'raha suspects it might have to do with them having a rather limited aetheric reserve. ]

I do not use a crystal to channel aether, personally. Thus I am capable of channeling aether into crystals on my own.